STF Pauses Nepotism Ruling as Majority Backs Conditional Exception for Political Appointments

Overview

• At the request of relator Luiz Fux, the Supreme Court suspended the session with no new date set to finalize the ruling.
• A 6–1 majority favors allowing relatives up to the third degree to hold political posts if technically qualified and of proven probity, with cross-appointments banned; Flávio Dino dissented.
• Ministers are weighing excluding Tribunais de Contas from any exception and preserving prohibitions for the Judiciary and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
• Three justices have yet to vote—Cármen Lúcia, Gilmar Mendes, and Edson Fachin—and proposals on the table include limiting allowances to first-echelon roles and applying changes prospectively for audit courts.
• The case stems from a Tupã (SP) appeal and carries repercussão geral, so the final thesis will bind similar cases nationwide.