Lula Weighs STF Nomination After Meeting Pacheco, With Messias Still Favored

Overview

• President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met Senator Rodrigo Pacheco on Monday as he consults on filling the Supreme Federal Court seat opened by Luís Roberto Barroso’s early retirement.
• Presidential aides say Attorney General Jorge Messias remains Lula’s preferred choice, though his name faces resistance among senators who have shown openness to Pacheco.
• Lula intends to meet Audit Court president Bruno Dantas, also considered for the vacancy, before announcing a nomination, according to government allies.
• Any nominee must first face a public hearing in the Senate Constitution and Justice Committee and then secure at least 41 votes in the plenary to be confirmed.
• The Senate’s 45–26 vote to reconfirm Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet is being read inside the government as a warning for contentious nominees, and Folha and O Antagonista report Lula told Pacheco he plans to choose Messias, which has not been formally announced.