After rejection of Messias, Lula may change criteria for choosing STF minister

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has considered the possibility of changing the main selection criteria he adopted to appoint minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) in his third term. According to allies, Lula is willing to choose a name that does not have the label of a personal friend or close relationship. Faced with the biggest defeat suffered in Congress during his government, with the rejection of Jorge Messias in the Senate plenary last Wednesday, Lula must examine a wider range of options for his nomination, without necessarily opting for a name from his kitchen.

Lula’s three previous choices were guided by the criteria of proximity and strict trust: Cristiano Zanin, his lawyer during the Lava-Jato processes; Flavio Dino, Minister of Justice; and then Jorge Messias, attorney general of the Union. All were names with which Lula was familiar and considered loyal to the president.

Unlike his first two terms, when he received a menu of suggestions from assistants and legal advisors, Lula began to treat the choice of Court members as a personal and non-transferable matter.

More than once, the PT member made it clear that he would not allow himself to be influenced or give in to pressure, preserving his prerogative of having the final say on the nomination. Now, it should be no different, but the list of names to be considered will be expanded so that there is not as much difficulty in approval among senators, as occurred with Messias.

In the view of those close to him, Lula should consider names that do not necessarily have a close relationship with him, but that the president knows the trajectory of, has good references and links with the progressive field.

In the words of an interlocutor, Lula is willing to change his method to reach the same objective: to have a name of his choice in the STF. Defended by the left, the choice of a woman is a considered scenario, but there is no name that has endeared itself to Lula so far.

Lula will not refrain from sending a new name to Congress so as not to prove that the final word on choosing the nominee was in the hands of the Senate, which rejected Messias, with just 34 votes in favor, while a minimum of 41 were needed. This Monday, vice-president Geraldo Alckmin stated in São Paulo that Lula will choose a new nominee:

— I think President Lula is defining his new nomination — Alckmin.

According to allies, there are still no favorite names at the table. This week, Lula is focused on preparing for his trip to the United States, where he will meet President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House.

After returning, you should intensify conversations about the subject. Aides claim that Jorge Messias should not be re-presented as a nominee, which, in the view of those around him, would represent a declaration of war on Congress. Lula does not want to escalate tension with the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), but he will not give up on his new choice.