Brazilian Supreme Court erupts in public feud over Banco Master scandal ahead of October vote

Key points

• Justices Alexandre de Moraes and André Mendonça exchanged heated insults during a livestreamed hearing, with de Moraes accusing Mendonça of serving a coup-planning group and Mendonça demanding respect for the court.
• The dispute stems from the Banco Master scandal, involving banker Daniel Vorcaro, who was arrested last November. Documents suggest Vorcaro sought advice from de Moraes and had a $25m contract with his wife’s law firm.
• Mendonça is accused of fast-tracking investigations into de Moraes while stalling inquiries into Vorcaro’s ties to Flávio Bolsonaro and the Bolsonaro family.
• De Moraes claims the attacks are politically motivated revenge from right-wing forces and involve external actors attempting to interfere in the election.
• The crisis coincides with a dead heat in polls for the October 25 runoff between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro, with analysts warning the scandal will intensify mudslinging in the campaign.

Background

This escalation follows months of judicial instability, including canceled sessions and unsealed police documents linking Vorcaro to de Moraes. The court is also facing a potential shift in composition, with four new justices expected to be appointed, which could alter the balance of power for years. Previous tensions arose from de Moraes’s role in convicting former president Jair Bolsonaro for a failed coup attempt after the 2022 election, a move that solidified his association with the Lula administration despite his appointment by a right-wing president.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court crisis threatens the integrity of Brazil’s upcoming presidential election and the stability of its democracy. The public feud between key justices could undermine public trust in the judiciary and influence voter perceptions of both Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro. If the court’s balance shifts significantly with new appointments, it could have long-term implications for the enforcement of election results and the handling of future political disputes, particularly given the ongoing tensions between left-wing and right-wing factions in Brazil.

What to watch

The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to open a formal investigation into de Moraes’s conduct, as he has demanded a probe into Mendonça. The outcome of this decision, along with the unsealing of further documents related to the Banco Master scandal, will likely shape the narrative of the October 25 runoff. Analysts predict the scandal will accelerate a descent into aggressive mudslinging in the election campaign, potentially affecting voter confidence in both the judiciary and the political candidates.