Brazil’s political storm starts with what should have been a routine step: confirming a new justice for the Supreme Federal Court.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva chose Jorge Messias, the government’s top lawyer, to fill a vacant seat. On paper, Messias is a technical figure. In practice, his name landed in the middle of a turf war over who sets the rules in Brasília.

The key player is Senate president Davi Alcolumbre. He scheduled Messias’s confirmation hearing for 10 December, then suddenly cancelled it, citing delays in the government’s paperwork.

For insiders, the message was obvious. This was not about forms and deadlines. It was about reminding Lula that no judge reaches the court without passing through Alcolumbre’s toll booth.

Alcolumbre was already irritated that Lula had ignored an idea to elevate Senate speaker Rodrigo Pacheco to the court. The hearing became a bargaining chip.

How A Supreme Court Nomination Sparked Brazil’s New Power Struggle. (Photo Internet reproduction)

By freezing the process, the Senate chief raised his price: more influence over top appointments and over how the government deals with Congress. Allies now float a new hearing date in mid-December, if tempers cool and concessions arrive.

Congress overturns Lula’s vetoes, shifting power and risks

The drama spilled over into a broader “veto revolt.” In a single session, Congress overturned Lula’s vetoes on two major laws: an environmental licensing bill and a programme to renegotiate state debts.

Lawmakers used a normal constitutional power, but the timing looked like payback. The environmental law loosens rules for projects that affect sensitive biomes such as the Atlantic Forest and makes “self-licensing” easier for medium-impact works, including infrastructure and mining.

Business groups cheer faster approvals. Environmental specialists warn of higher accident risks and damage to Brazil’s climate reputation.

On state debts, restored clauses let indebted rich states stretch payments using future federal funds that were meant to reduce regional gaps.

Today’s governors gain breathing room; future taxpayers and poorer regions carry more of the bill. For expats and investors abroad, the lesson is simple.

In Brazil, checks and balances exist, but they often appear through personal feuds. When that happens, the environment, public finances and legal stability become collateral in a game played by a handful of power brokers.