Lula’s Pick Jorge Messias Faces Resistance in Senate Confirmation

Overview

• President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva formally nominated Attorney General Jorge Messias to the Supreme Federal Court seat vacated by Luís Roberto Barroso.
• Planalto aides concede they are not yet sure of the 41 votes needed as Senate president Davi Alcolumbre opposes the choice and had pushed Rodrigo Pacheco.
• Messias agreed with Lula to personally meet all 81 senators, including opposition members, before his Constitution and Justice Committee hearing.
• Press reports allege Messias may be suspected of prevaricação for not acting on internal alerts tied to union irregularities in the INSS case, an issue likely to surface in his confirmation.
• A fire at the COP30 Blue Zone in Belém was contained with no reported injuries after earlier UNFCCC warnings about venue vulnerabilities, and Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the preventive arrest of deputy Alexandre Ramagem following reports he traveled to the United States.