Supreme Court Justice Andre Mendonca Emerges as Key Figure in Brazil’s Election Battle
Thousands gathered in São Paulo to back Flavio Bolsonaro, while a giant balloon of Justice Andre Mendonca highlighted his growing sway over the election.
A crowd of thousands assembled in São Paulo to promote Flavio Bolsonaro’s presidential bid, with a towering balloon of Supreme Court Justice Andre Mendonca dominating the scene. Mendonca, appointed by former President Jair Bolsonaro and the court’s sole openly evangelical justice, has recently suspended President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s federal police chief over an unverified intelligence report, fueling a constitutional showdown.
Critics within the Supreme Court, Federal Police and the prosecutor general’s office warn his rulings may aim to weaken Lula’s campaign, while his allies claim he remains independent. On Wednesday, Justice Flavio Dino, a Lula appointee, reinstated the police chief, setting the stage for a full-court hearing. The upcoming election could allow the winner to appoint three of the eleven justices, potentially cementing Mendonca’s conservative influence for years.
Why it matters
Mendonca’s judicial actions could tip Brazil’s election outcome and reshape the Supreme Court’s future balance.
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