Battle lines drawn for crucial 2021 Congress election

In article 57 of Brazil’s Constitution, it is explicitly stated that the heads of Brazil’s congressional houses are unable to run for re-election in the middle of any given four-year legislature period. However, the provisions of the Constitution have never gotten in the way of the country’s Supreme Court, and its 11 members have employed “creative” solutions to fit their interests on several occasions. Another example was set to occur this week, as justices ruled on whether House Speaker Rodrigo Maia and Senate President Davi Alcolumbre would be handed the right to run for another two years in their powerful offices. 

Behind the scenes, Supreme Court justices had formed a majority in favor of bending constitutional rules, as the court sees Messrs. Maia and Alcolumbre as necessary checks to President Bolsonaro’s penchant for authoritarianism.

However, as we explained in today’s Weekly Report, infighting between justices led the court to block the request, meaning neither Rodrigo Maia or Davi Alcolumbre will be able to stand for re-election in February.

The verdict was not reached out of desire to observe the Constitution, but rather due to an internal power struggle between Chief Justice Luiz Fux and influential Justice Gilmar Mendes. As Justice Mendes was behind the push to help Messrs. Maia and Alcolumbre, the chief justice’s allies decided...