Brazil Supreme Court judges influence 2026 election amid party split and clean‑record law challenge

The Democracia Cristã (DC) party posted an AI‑generated video on Instagram on 22 May showing former Supreme Court justice Joaquim Barbosa as a pre‑candidate for the 2026 presidential election. The clip triggered an internal dispute, with former minister Aldo Rebelo insisting he remained the party’s nominee and accusing party leader João Caldas of expelling him.

On the same day, Justice Cármen Lúcia, rapporteur of a case concerning amendments to the “Ficha Limpa” (Clean Record) law, voted to declare the changes that shorten periods of ineligibility unconstitutional. The anti‑corruption group Movimento de Combate à Corrupção Eleitoral praised the decision as a defence of electoral integrity, noting it could affect several high‑profile politicians ahead of the 2026 vote.