Senators claim that, by working for the historic defeat of , the president of , (-AP), wanted to return what he saw as the ingratitude of the Lula (PT) government, demonstrate strength and score points with the Bolsonarist group with an eye on his reelection to the presidency of the House next year.
Parliamentarians from the allied base say they do not understand what motivated Alcolumbre’s anger and admit surprise at the unfavorable score of 34 votes to 42, but point to the five months that separated Messias’ nomination, on November 20, from the hearing, this Wednesday (29).
People close to the senator believe that former Senate president Rodrigo Pacheco (PSB-MG), whom he considers like a brother, was not chosen by Lula for the (Supreme Federal Court).
In recent months, Alcolumbre said that he saw the seat opened with the early retirement of minister Luís Roberto Barroso as an extra vacancy, which should be filled by the Senate.
According to reports, Alcolumbre stated more than once that Lula’s two previous nominees, Cristiano Zanin and Flávio Dino, were only approved with the support of the group of senators close to him and that the PT member should reciprocate the help.
Government members, in turn, stated that the prerogative to nominate members of the Supreme Court belongs to the Presidency and that the Legislature would not be responsible for demands in this regard.
Despite this, people close to Alcolumbre claim that, in his view, Lula also demonstrated a lack of recognition not only with the Senate, in general, but especially with Pacheco, who was worn out by the electorate by defending democracy and confronting the former president () — and that it would be legitimate, therefore, for him to be rewarded with a position as minister.
Alcolumbre’s allies also create a timeline to highlight everything that irritated him since Pacheco was passed over for the position. The president of the Senate complained about not having been warned in advance by the government that .
At what seemed to be the height of the crisis, days after the announcement, Alcolumbre said that he and Congress were being offended by “sectors of the Executive” and told people close to him that .
He reported being bothered by news about a supposed presidency of Banco do Brasil, Caixa, CVM (Securities Commission), Cade (Administrative Council for Economic Defense) and ANA (National Water Agency).
Alcolumbre told allies that he even considered it part of the second-tier positions and that he had never treated these appointments as a type of compensation for the fact that Lula had not chosen Pacheco.
The Amapá native also declared to people close to him that the delay by Messias’ government was an affront to the Senate and an attempt to manipulate a competence that belongs to the President of the House: scheduling the vote on the appointment of authorities.
Alcolumbre even scheduled Messias’ hearing for December 10th and said behind the scenes that, without the necessary paperwork, he would print the page of the DOU (Official Gazette of the Union) with Messias’ indication to deliver to the senators of the CCJ (Constitution and Justice Commission).
At the beginning of this Wednesday’s plenary session, the rapporteur for Messias’ nomination, Weverton Rocha (PDT-MA), provoked Alcolumbre about rumors that he was working against approval. The president of the Senate did not respond and recalled the government’s delay in sending the nomination to the House.
“If I go into the merits of this process, since November 10th of last year [a indicação ocorreu dia 20]I will take up a lot of your Excellencies’ time and, without a doubt, I will have to make some considerations in relation to everything that has been published in the last few days and in the last few months in relation to this nomination”, said Alcolumbre.
Two people close to Alcolumbre say that the senator also tried to gain points with the opposition, which is pressuring him to impeach Supreme Court ministers and will try to defeat him at the beginning of next year to elect a typically Bolsonarist Senate president.
The scenario would remain unfavorable to support for Alcolumbre’s re-election to the position in the event of a Bolsonarist victory for the Presidency of the Republic, but the vote was considered a first gesture of rapprochement. Another will take place this Thursday (30), when Congress will vote on the bill that reduces the sentence of Bolsonaro and others convicted of the January 8 coup attacks.
Alcolumbre also told the opposition that, if Messias was defeated, the choice of the new STF minister would be chosen.
Lula’s main opponent for his re-election will be Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), who is already tied with him in voting intention polls. Furthermore, there is an expectation among the political class that the right will increase its strength in the Senate in the October elections.
Last year, Alcolumbre even said that Messias’ hearing could be postponed until after the 2026 elections — also implying that the nomination would have to be changed if Lula was defeated.
