Brazil Supreme Court grapples with Master case dispute and ethics‑code debate

Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes said Justice André Mendonça committed a “crass error” after claiming a lawyer for Daniel Vorcaro offered a selective plea‑bargain in the Master bank investigation. Mendes argued that such agreements must involve the Public Ministry or Federal Police, not private talks, and criticized the timing of President Edson Fachin’s proposal for a court ethics code, saying it should be handled internally.

Mendes and Fachin recently reconciled, symbolised by an embrace in the court’s White Hall, shifting internal tensions toward the Master case and recent clashes with the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). Mendes reiterated that the ethics code will be debated collectively and described the current focus as the “war” over the Master investigation, while Mendonça, acting as rapporteur, continues the probe and denies any selective plea‑bargain offers.