Overview

• Barroso confirmed the early retirement in a plenary address and will remain briefly to return views and close pending matters.
• The president has discretion on when to nominate a successor, and any choice must face a CCJ hearing and secure majority approval in the full Senate.
• Lula told allies that Jorge Messias is “mature” for the role, and court insiders and presidential aides regard him as the front-runner.
• Rodrigo Pacheco and TCU minister Bruno Dantas are also cited as contenders, reflecting parallel calculations about Senate support and governability.
• Barroso’s exit may reassign sensitive dockets, including Lava Jato cases he just inherited from Fachin, and Lula’s pick would move his appointments toward nearly half of the Court.