Brazil's Senate rejected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's nominee to the Supreme Federal Court on Wednesday, delivering a rare political setback.

Jorge Messias, Brazil's solicitor-general since 2023 and a close legal adviser to Lula, received 34 votes in favor and 42 against in a secret ballot. The nomination required 41 favorable votes for approval. Messias, 46, previously worked for former President Dilma Rousseff and is an evangelical Christian.

The vacancy arose after Justice Luís Roberto Barroso resigned in November 2025, leaving the court with 10 members. Messias had cleared the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee but fell short in the full Senate plenary.

Opposition senators, including Flávio Bolsonaro, celebrated the outcome as a response to the Supreme Court's actions against lawmakers. "This is a win for the opposition," Flávio Bolsonaro said, linking it to calls for impeaching justices. Senate President Davi Alcolumbre reportedly preferred fellow Senator Rodrigo Pacheco for the seat and mobilized votes against Messias.

Messias responded graciously: "I am thankful to each vote I received. There’s days of victory, days of defeat. We have to accept it." Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça praised him as a man of character who met all requirements.

This marks the first Senate rejection of a presidential Supreme Court nominee in 132 years, since 1894 under President Floriano Peixoto, when five nominees were blocked amid early Republic instability. Lula's prior nominees, Cristiano Zanin and Flávio Dino, were approved.

Government leader Jaques Wagner called the result a surprise, having expected more support. Lula must now nominate a new candidate for the same scrutiny. The defeat highlights tensions between the executive and legislature as Lula eyes reelection amid low approval ratings.