The Federal Supreme Court stated that it respects the Senate’s decision that rejected the nomination of Jorge Messias to the Court and informed that it awaits the next steps to fill the open vacancy. The position was released after the House plenary blocked the name of the Union’s attorney general by 42 votes against and 34 in favor.
In a note signed by the president of the STF, Edson Fachin, the court highlighted that the process of analyzing nominations is a constitutional responsibility of the Senate.
“Republican life is strengthened when disagreements are handled with elegance, urbanity and public responsibility,” stated the Court in the statement.
The demonstration comes after a process that lasted around five months between the formal nomination and the final vote. Before going to the plenary, Messias had undergone a hearing at the Senate Constitution and Justice Committee, which lasted approximately eight hours and ended with approval by 16 votes to 11.
Despite the approval in the committee, the score in the plenary was insufficient to guarantee the nomination. According to the Constitution, at least 41 votes in favor are necessary for a nominee to the STF to be approved.
With the rejection, it will be up to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to nominate a new name, which must go through hearings and a vote in the Senate again.
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André Mendonça regretted Messiah’s rejection
The minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) André Mendonça regretted that X rejected the name of the Union’s attorney general, Jorge Messias, for the vacant seat on the Court. According to Mendonça, Brazil lost the opportunity to have “a great minister” and that Messias meets the constitutional requirements to be part of the court.
“Messiah is a man of character, integrity and who meets the constitutional requirements to be a Minister of the STF. A true friend is not present at parties; he is present in difficult moments. Messiah, leave this battle with your head held high. You fought the good fight!”, he stated.
Mendonça, nominated by former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in 2021, publicly supported Messias’ appointment to the Court. Both are evangelicals.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo.
