Lula and Senate President Alcolumbre Avoid STF Nominee Talk in Second Meeting

Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Davi Alcolumbre held a second meeting on Wednesday, focusing on moving forward rather than revisiting past disagreements, according to sources close to the Senate leader. The encounter, described as "light" and "positive" by Alcolumbre’s interlocutors, deliberately avoided mentioning Jorge Messias, the attorney-general whom Lula has nominated for a vacancy on the Supreme Federal Court (STF). Messias’s nomination was rejected by the Senate in April, triggering a public rift between the Planalto and the Senate presidency.

Interlocutors of Alcolumbre said the two leaders agreed not to reopen past disputes and to concentrate on future cooperation. "The path is open and unobstructed. They respect each other. They will not return to discussing what happened. The focus now is what comes ahead," one source summarized.

A faction within Lula’s government allied to Messias continues to push for his renomination before the upcoming elections, hoping Lula can secure the conditions for Senate approval through dialogue with Alcolumbre. However, allies of the Senate president contend there is no room for such a maneuver, noting that Alcolumbre has shown no signs of relenting his opposition.

Meanwhile, members of Alcolumbre’s party, the Brazil Union (União Brasil), reported perceiving a softening in the senator’s resistance to Messias, according to a column cited in the O Globo blog. The article did not elaborate on the nature of these signals.

The STF, Brazil’s highest court, plays a pivotal role in constitutional matters, and its composition often becomes a political flashpoint. Lula’s attempt to place Messias, a close legal adviser, on the bench has been framed by supporters as strengthening democratic institutions, while critics view it as an effort to influence judicial outcomes.

The meeting between Lula and Alcolumbre took place ahead of José Guimarães’s swearing-in as a legislative leader, an event photographed showing the two presidents conversing. No further details about the agenda were disclosed.

As of now, the nomination remains stalled, with both sides appearing to prioritize institutional stability over the contested appointment, at least in public discourse.