Brazil’s next president will inherit an unprecedented backlog of high‑level appointments, with key positions at the Supreme Court, the central bank and major economic regulators remaining unfilled. The vacancies, many dating back to early 2024, could give the election winner considerable influence over institutions that shape monetary policy, oversee financial markets and interpret the constitution.
Election Context
The tight race pits incumbent left‑leaning President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, a right‑wing figure. Voters will choose between them in the first round on Sunday, with a runoff expected later in the month.
Congressional Power Shift
A increasingly assertive Congress has turned the confirmation of nominees into a tool for political leverage, limiting the executive branch’s flexibility. During President Lula’s current term, a predominantly right‑wing Senate has delayed many of his nominations, and some appointments have never been submitted.
Senate President Davi Alcolumbre, according to a source familiar with the process, has maintained a practice of holding nominations pending his approval, effectively concentrating power in the Senate.
Key Vacancies
At the central bank, two board seats—including the economic policy post that guides forecasts ahead of interest‑rate decisions—have been empty since January, a record duration. President Lula has not yet presented candidates for these roles.
In April, the Senate rejected Lula’s Supreme Court nominee, Solicitor General Jorge Messias, extending a vacancy that is now approaching a year, the longest since Brazil’s return to democracy in the 1980s.
The securities regulator CVM has lacked board members since late 2024, and the antitrust watchdog Cade is missing its president and two board members, leaving it near the minimum quorum needed to review mergers.
Implications
Political scientist Claudio Couto of Fundação Getúlio Vargas warned that the backlog is “deeply problematic,” as it risks concentrating appointments in a single administration and politicizing bodies meant to remain nonpartisan.
Legislative watchdog DIAP head Neuriberg Dias noted that nominations and bills now hinge more on deals among congressional leaders than on negotiations between the president and coalition parties. Congressional earmarks have risen from 7.5% of effective federal discretionary spending in 2018 to 21% in 2025, according to Planning Ministry data.
Last year, Congress approved 178 bills introduced by legislators and only 50 from the executive, a reversal from 2007 when the executive led with 142 bills versus 52 from Congress.
Election Stakes
With power shifting toward Congress, the 2026 election will not only decide who governs Brazil but also how much latitude the winner will have to fill these critical posts and shape the country’s institutions.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
