Brazil's Senate dealt a political blow to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday by rejecting his appointee to the Supreme Court, marking the first such rejection in more than 130 years.
Historic Rejection
Only 34 senators voted in favor of Jorge Messias, who has served as Brazil's solicitor-general since 2023 and is a close legal advisor to Lula, while 42 senators rejected his appointment. Messias needed 41 votes to secure approval. The last time Brazil's Senate rejected a Supreme Court nominee was in 1894, during the presidency of Floriano Peixoto, when the country's second ever president was at odds with lawmakers.
Political Context
Lula, who is seeking reelection in October for his fourth non-consecutive term, selected Messias to replace Luís Roberto Barroso, who resigned in November. Since then, Brazil's top court has operated with only 10 members. Earlier, the 46-year-old Messias was approved by a Senate commission, but the full chamber disagreed in a secret vote. Besides Lula, other members of the court openly campaigned for the solicitor-general, who also sought votes from lawmakers of Evangelical faith, like himself.
Next Steps
Brazil's president will now have to nominate another candidate, who will undergo the same scrutiny before the Senate votes again. This rejection underscores the political challenges Lula faces as he prepares for the upcoming election.
