Government allies () protested on social media against Jorge Messias’ rejection of a vacancy on the (Supreme Federal Court). The Union’s attorney general had been appointed by Lula.
In a secret vote, 42 senators spoke against Lula’s nomination — 34 were in favor. This is a historic defeat for the government: it has been 132 years since a candidate for the position has been rejected.
On the social network
Federal deputy Rogério Correia (PT-MG) recorded a video saying that Messias’ rejection is the result of “the continued coup method” of the extreme right.
Also on video, deputy Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ) reacted to the defeat in the Senate, recalling the motto “Congress, Enemy of the People”. Encouraging social mobilization along the lines of the Blindagem PEC, Farias said that the Senate will have to explain itself for having rejected one of the most qualified names in the country to occupy the position.
“It’s time for us to raise our heads with dignity and defend this project, which is led by our president Lula, which is a project for the inclusion of working people, the poorest in our country.” Maria do Rosário (PT-RS) stated that Messias’ rejection violates the president’s prerogative.
“This episode is the symptom of a deep crisis: Parliament today prioritizes its own interests over the Constitution. It is not enough to have a democratic government; we need a Congress that also defends democracy.”
Former Lula minister and pre-candidate for the Senate from Paraná, Gleisi Hoffmann (PT) stated that the Senate’s decision was unfair, because it deprived the country of having a qualified person on the Supreme Court.
According to her, the government’s defeat was the result of a “big agreement” made by people who fear investigations into financial scandals and against organized crime.
Representative Jandira Feghali (PCdoB-RJ) stated that “the extreme right opened another hole in the institutions”. According to the parliamentarian, the government’s defeat was also a defeat for democracy, because no other nominee had been rejected since the 19th century.
Feghali also said that the episode creates a crisis between the powers of the Republic: “This gesture creates tension between the powers of the Republic with the aim of taking Brazil into an institutional crisis, in which private interests override the greater interests of the nation.”
In the Senate’s CCJ (Constitution and Justice Committee), Messias had been approved by 16 votes to 11, after around eight hours of hearings.
During the hearing, Messias did intense work to court right-wing parliamentarians and signaled to senators that he agreed with the Judiciary’s self-restraint and the need to reduce tensions between the STF and Congress, but the appeals were not enough.
The overthrow of Messiah was sponsored by the president of the Senate, (-AP). He defended the choice of his ally (PSB-MG) for the STF and made it difficult for the Union’s attorney general to approve it. Messias was running for the vacancy left by Luís Roberto Barroso, who retired in October last year.
Alcolumbre’s pressure opened a clash between the Senate and Lula. The President of the Republic contradicted the parliamentarian and insisted on choosing a name he trusted — the head of the AGU (Attorney General of the Union) worked for former president Dilma Rousseff and is close to the PT.
According to reports made to SheetAlcolumbre . The president of the Senate denies it. The movement behind the scenes contrasts with the public stance of the senator, who told Lula’s interlocutors that he would remain neutral, without asking Messias for votes, but also without acting to harm him.
Minutes after the disapproval, federal deputy Ivan Valente (PSOL) wrote, also in X, that the right is betting on chaos and that the hearing in the Senate should only be used for confirmation. “Nomination to the STF is the prerogative of the President of the Republic, approval by the Senate should be a formality. The right is betting on chaos and confrontation”, wrote Valente.
In contrast, deputy André Janones (PT) minimized the episode, stating that the population would not be worried about vacancies in the STF. Therefore, there would be no relationship between the rejection of Messiah and this year.
“What impresses me most on both the left and the right is seeing everyone thinking that the people are really worried about who was or wasn’t approved for the STF. The people don’t give a shit and are about it, and the people are the ones who decide the election!”
Representative Glauber Braga (PSOL-RJ) speculated on the next steps. According to him, a new nomination, from someone linked to the center, would confirm the defeat. Braga asked for the appointment of a black jurist, to transform defeat into victory.
“If Lula nominates a black jurist with an undeniable track record in defense of the working class, we will win the public battle. The Congress, the enemy of the people, wants a fight? Up on them!”
