BRAZIL: Supreme Court Working Behind the Scenes to re elect Senate leader ALCOLUMBRE
By Hotspotnews
Ministers of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) have intensified behind-the-scenes efforts to support the reelection of Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP) in February 2027, driven by concern that the newly elected Senate will advance impeachment requests against members of the Court.
According to a report published today by UOL, based on conversations with interlocutors of senators who face ongoing investigations or pending cases, as well as newly elected politicians, the activity has reached an unusual level of intensity in recent weeks. The central motive is the risk that a Senate president more aligned with the incoming composition of the house would process petitions to remove STF justices—one of the main campaign themes of a significant share of senators elected in October.
The Senate president holds decisive procedural power over these requests. Impeachment petitions against Supreme Court ministers only advance if the president of the Senate formally forwards them. Without that step, they do not reach the full house for debate. A conviction later requires a two-thirds majority of the 81-member Senate. And some people say it is ALL GOOD!
Alcolumbre maintains a close relationship with Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has previously acted as an intermediary in crises involving the senator, including tensions with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after the Senate rejected the nomination of Jorge Messias to the Court earlier this year. Alcolumbre has indicated to allies that he does not intend to prioritize impeachment proceedings against Moraes or other ministers.
The UOL reporting describes the contacts as subtle rather than explicit threats. The dynamic involves mutual interests: politicians prefer that their own pending matters at the STF not advance, while ministers seek to avoid facing removal processes in the Senate. In some cases, the messages reach senators through their lawyers.
Pressure inside the Court has been heightened by revelations linked to the Banco Master case and former banker Daniel Vorcaro. These have touched justices from different internal groups, including Moraes, Dias Toffoli, and Kassio Nunes Marques, helping explain a broader convergence around keeping Alcolumbre in the presidency. Alcolumbre himself has ties to related investigations involving the Amapá state pension fund.
Opposition candidates currently positioning themselves against Alcolumbre include Rogério Marinho (PL-RN) and Tereza Cristina (PP-MS). Alcolumbre has told interlocutors he believes he already has around 48 votes (41 are required). The Lula government also supports his continuation, citing his role in advancing priority items such as the reduction of the 6×1 work schedule and the Public Security constitutional amendment.
The movement reflects the structural importance of the Senate presidency as a gatekeeper over accountability measures against the Court, at a moment when a larger number of senators have been elected on platforms calling for greater oversight of the STF.
Sources: UOL (Anita Prado, 7 November 2026); reporting citing interlocutors of senators and Court sources; related coverage from CNN Brasil, Estadão, Metrópoles, and Agenda do Poder on Alcolumbre’s vote count and prior statements regarding impeachment requests.
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