President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva holds the constitutional authority to nominate a new Supreme Court (STF) minister to fill the vacancy left by Roberto Barroso’s retirement, subject to Senate confirmation requiring at least 41 votes. Following the Senate’s historic 42-34 rejection of his initial nominee, Jorge Messias, on April 29, 2026—the first such defeat in over 130 years—Lula has publicly stated his intent to resubmit a candidate, potentially a woman, while allies indicate timing considerations tied to the October 2026 general elections and Senate dynamics. No new formal nomination has been announced as of early June 2026, with procedural rules barring resubmission of the same name in the current legislative session. Key upcoming factors include Senate leadership positions and any pre-election strategic calculations by the executive.