Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes said on social media that he expected the person leading Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to take the impartial approach required by the Constitution. Although Mendes did not name anyone, his remarks were directed at TSE president Kassio Nunes Marques, with whom he has had public disagreements.
Mendes wrote that the 2026 election showed why state institutions must be regarded as greater than the individuals who hold office. He credited the TSE’s full bench with ensuring that the contest followed democratic rules, while arguing that institutional safeguards should not have to be restored at every election.
He also warned that silence and hesitation by leaders of important institutions are not neutral, saying they can leave room for contradictory decisions and prompt other authorities to address issues that could have been resolved earlier. Mendes added that, while the court’s collective decision-making had played its part this time, the strength of the electoral process should not depend solely on the full bench.
During the election, Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin extended voting hours by two hours after requests from the campaigns of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro. Nunes Marques had not commented on the issue. Flávio cited the decision as a reason for seeking to annul the vote, and it fueled baseless conspiracy theories among Bolsonaro supporters.
Sources: Folha Poder.