Romeu Zema Accuses Brazil's Supreme Federal Court of Corruption and Political Bias

At a public interview on August 25, 2026, presidential candidate Romeu Zema of the Novo party leveled serious accusations against Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF), claiming that it has been transformed into a "business counter" and is being used for political purposes. Zema criticized specific STF ministers, alleging their involvement in questionable business dealings and a culture of impunity within the judiciary.

Zema did not name the ministers directly but asserted there are "at least three rotten fruits" in the Court whose actions undermine its integrity. He cited instances such as a R$ 129 million contract linked to the wife of Minister Alexandre de Moraes and a R$ 39 million transaction associated with Minister Dias Toffoli. Furthermore, he referenced an extravagant event funded by a banker, attended by high-profile figures including STF ministers, to illustrate the alleged inappropriate financial relationships within the Court.

The candidate emphasized the need for thorough investigations and judicial accountability. He argued that in any civilized nation, such misconduct would lead to expulsion from office and declared his commitment to tackling this culture of corruption if elected. Despite these allegations, Zema denied any involvement in the Banco Master scandal, distancing himself from ongoing probes that involve figures like former banker Daniel Vorcaro.

These remarks came amidst ongoing investigations involving various political figures, including Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, prompting Zema to denounce the perceived politicization of the judiciary rather than impartial legal scrutiny.

A recent Datafolha poll showed Zema with only 3% voter intention, trailing far behind front-runners Lula (39%) and Flávio Bolsonaro (33%). When contacted for responses to Zema’s accusations, the ministers implicated had not offered any comments by the time of publication.

Zema’s strong denunciations highlight growing concerns over judicial transparency and ethics in Brazil, setting the stage for heightened debates on judicial reform ahead of the presidential elections.