The accumulation of friction between the government and the (Federal Supreme Court) weakened tacit alliances in recent years and created a climate of “every man for himself” in the final stretch of the Legislative’s work in 2025 and on the eve of the election year.
One of the main destabilizing factors was the choice of (PT) by the Union’s attorney general, , for a vacancy in the STF.
The nomination contradicted the president of , (-AP), and some of the most influential ministers of the Supreme Court, who wanted Lula to have chosen (-MG).
Since returning to be president, in 2023, the PT member has had the support of the court and has had the Senate as his main point of support in the Legislature.
The relationship between the government and the Chamber, which was already turbulent, also deteriorated with the votes on the proposal that hindered investigations against congressmen, known as, and .
In the second episode, the president of the House, (-PB), placed the deputy and secretary of Public Security of São Paulo (), one of the government’s most vocal opponents, as rapporteur for the project. The choice.
Amid turbulence with other Powers, the Chamber is undergoing an internal rearrangement. Motta broke with the leaders, Lindgerbh Farias (RJ), and, (RJ). Afterwards, he isolated the two parties and .
On Wednesday (26), the strain in relations between Powers became clear with the exemption from Income Tax for those who receive up to R$5,000.
The measure was Lula’s campaign promise and has the potential to increase his popularity.
Parliamentarians interviewed by the report state that shocks are natural, but attribute the escalation of crises to the lack of dialogue and leadership from the heads of each Power, who should try to reestablish the balance and limits of their actions.
Another sign of deterioration in the political climate was given last Thursday (27), when . In the same week, the Senate approved, against the wishes of the Executive, a project that regulates special retirement for health and health workers.
Both the consideration of the vetoes and the approval of the special retirement occurred amid tension following Messiah’s appointment.
Alcolumbre said he did not take any action in retaliation against the government. Despite this, he stated behind the scenes that he could promote a quick vote with the aim of defeating Lula’s nomination.
According to the government leader in Congress, (-AP), the vetoes in the area of environmental licensing were guided by “imposition by the majority of congressional leaders, the opposition and the center”. He stated that it was not in the government’s interest to vote on the matter.
The alignment between the wing of the STF and the Palácio do Planalto, built largely thanks to the minister’s actions in the processes that targeted () and the coup plot, also weakened in the face of Messias’ choice.
Moraes, who was a Pacheco enthusiast, had been supporting Alcolumbre in urging the Senate to reject the nominee. Last week, in an attempt to smooth the edges.
Another member of the court is another who would maintain a preference for Pacheco. Other ministers, even those who also had sympathy for the senator, indicated support for the attorney general publicly or behind the scenes after the nomination.
The relationship between the Supreme Court and Congress, in turn, has been strained mainly because of . The action has made it difficult to send federal resources to electoral bases and angered deputies and senators.
Even the relationship between the Chamber and the Senate has had at least one shake-up over the last few months.
The presidents of both Houses reached the positions they currently occupy in February. They had a history of closeness, in contrast to what happened in Congress in previous years — the now former presidents of the Chamber, (PP-AL), and of the Senate, Pacheco, had a distant relationship.
The alliance between Motta and Alcolumbre, however, fell apart at the end of September, when .
The proposal was unpopular and, by voting against it, the senators made the Chamber alone bear the resulting damage to its image. O , which represents all the deputies in public opinion and was responsible for putting the matter on the agenda.
The Senate’s rejection of the project also left the Chamber alone in confronting the STF, the PEC’s main target. Criticisms are common, both from deputies and senators.
Motta and Alcolumbre, however, have become closer. Allies report that the two went there in a friendly atmosphere.
Algerian political scientist Cheibub Figueiredo states that there is “a cauldron of mixed factors” and that, at this moment, the relationship between the Executive and Legislative branches is the most problematic.
According to the professor at UERJ (State University of Rio de Janeiro), the crisis is not necessarily institutional, but rather political, given that there is a large ideological difference between the majority of Congress and the Lula government. “The center today is moving towards the extreme right, and that’s why,” he says.
“It’s the result of a political struggle. With the majority of Congress having the political positions they have, it’s no wonder they want to go against the Executive. Each branch is using the political power it has. The government is willing to negotiate, but not to be blocked or impeded in anything by one of these two presidents [Motta e Alcolumbre]”, he states.
Figueiredo also says that the conflict is because the candidates are being defined and the right is bewildered and divided. “[A direita] is trying to get that right, trying to see if they become more cohesive against the government.”
