The president of Brazil's Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), said on Tuesday (September 1) that the number of impeachment requests against Supreme Court justices pending in Congress "is not normal". There are 109 requests for impeachment of the 10 justices of the Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF), Brazil's highest court. Asked about Justice Alexandre de Moraes, whom the opposition has targeted over his messages with a former banker, he said he would not discuss the content of the exchanges.
"My perception is that there are 109 requests. This is not normal. 109 impeachment requests against the 10 justices of the STF", Alcolumbre told journalists as he left the Senate, according to news site G1. On the messages between Moraes and Daniel Vorcaro, the former owner of Banco Master, he was brief: "I have not found anything, nor should I find anything."
According to G1, the messages suggest that Moraes discussed with Vorcaro the possibility of a Federal Police operation that would have the former banker as its target. Alcolumbre did not say whether he intends to move any of the requests forward. The choice is his: under Brazil's Constitution, the Senate tries and judges Supreme Court justices for crimes of responsibility, and it falls to the Senate president to archive or admit each complaint. Only after a complaint is admitted can the case go to a special committee and then to a full floor vote. The maximum penalty is removal from office, with a ban on holding public office for up to five years.
Pressure on the Senate floor
The pressure began during Tuesday's session itself. The Novo party and Senator Carlos Viana (PSD-MG) filed new impeachment requests against Moraes on the same day. Viana also asked that the justice be summoned to testify before the Senate. "Your Excellency, they are on your desk, under your responsibility and your history", Viana said, addressing Alcolumbre. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), his party's candidate for the presidency, said: "It is very worrying, this kind of anesthesia we are seeing from the Legislative branch, especially from this House."
According to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, allies of Alcolumbre put the odds of a case against Moraes moving forward at zero. The paper reports that the Senate president keeps a close relationship with the justice, often dining with him and former Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (PSB-MG). Folha also notes that Alcolumbre said he has faced pressure over impeachment requests for a long time.
What comes next depends on one person. Alcolumbre must decide whether to archive or admit the complaints, and he set no deadline. For now, the 109 requests wait without a defined path.