Lula defends Messias in front of the STF and responds to the controversy: “I am very calm”

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Lula defended his nomination of Jorge Mesías for STF membership, justifying his qualification, while the hearing was canceled due to the letter not having been formally sent to the Senate, reflecting tensions between the government and the legislature.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) defended his appointment of Jorge Messias to fill a seat on the Supreme Federal Court (STF), following the retirement of Minister Luis Roberto Barroso. In an interview with Verdes Maris TV on Wednesday, 3rd of this month, Lula said that he did not understand why the nomination had become a “political problem.”

“I don’t understand the reason for the controversy. It’s not the prime minister I’m nominating, I’ve already nominated eight ministers. I simply send it to the Senate, and then the Senate makes the ruling to see if the person is qualified or not,” he said.

“I hope the matter will be resolved, I am very calm about this. I have done my part and sent a name that I understand has the professional qualifications to be a minister of the Supreme Court,” Lula added.

The hearing of the Attorney General of the Lula government, Messias, in the Senate was canceled last Tuesday, 2, by Senator Davi Alcolombre (Uniao-AP), Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.

Alcombre cancels the hearing of Jorge Mesías, who was nominated by Lula for STF membership:

In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, Alcolombre justified the failure to send a written message regarding the nomination, from the federal government to the Senate: “This omission, the exclusive responsibility of the executive branch, is dangerous and unprecedented,” the senator said.

The failure to send the written signal by Lula’s government was attributed to a movement aimed at buying time and facilitating a meeting between Messias and the senators. Alcolombre, in turn, pointed out that the “omission” of the executive authority is “an interference in the timetable” of the legislative authority.

The cancellation of Messias’ session highlights the deteriorating relationship between the federal government and the Senate. After Barroso announced his retirement from the STF, Alcolombre arranged for his ally, former Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), to be Lula’s nominee.

However, Lula chose the name of Mesías, who has held various positions in PT governments and has been serving as AGU since 2023. The appointment was announced on November 20.