The Strange Behavior of Nunes Marques and Mendonça in Recent Days…

STF ministers André Mendonça and Kassio Nunes Marques discreetly work to increase support for Jorge Messias in the Senate. There, Messias will try to secure the necessary votes to take a seat on the Supreme Court. Both, appointed by Jair Bolsonaro, helped open doors among opposition senators who agreed to meet with Messias – a move considered unlikely until recently. The fact that the Attorney General is evangelical and sought direct dialogue helped soften resistance even within the PL. After the meetings, some of these lawmakers showed sympathy for the nomination and, in confidence, said they intend to vote in favor of Messias, although they may not publicly declare this position. Since the vote for SCOTUS justices is secret, both unexpected support and last-minute turnarounds can occur. To be confirmed in the position, Lula’s nominee needs to gather at least 41 votes among the 81 senators. The date of the session that will decide his future has not been set yet.