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Nunes Marques drawn as rapporteur for Flávio Bolsonaro's criminal complaint against Lula

3 sources · 18 Jun 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press

Minister Kassio Nunes Marques was drawn as rapporteur for the criminal complaint that Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) filed against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the Supreme Federal Court. The draw occurred on June 17, 2026, according to reports by Band, CartaCapital and InfoMoney. The action, filed on June 4, requests the opening of an investigation to examine Lula for alleged threats and incitement to crime.

Press quotes (2)
Band

"O ministro Kassio Nunes Marques, do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), foi sorteado nesta quarta-feira, 17, para ser o relator da notícia-crime apresentada pelo senador e pré-candidato Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ)."

Band

"A ação, protocolada em 4 de junho, pede a abertura de inquérito para investigar discurso em que Lula falou sobre enforcamento de "traidores da pátria" em Catalão (GO)."

The criminal complaint refers to statements by Lula during an event in Catalão (GO), when he said: "for less than that, Joaquim Silvério dos Reis, who betrayed Tiradentes, was hanged. What do the traitors of the homeland who go asking for a country's intervention in ours deserve?" Flávio Bolsonaro claims the president's speech put his life at risk. The senator's defense argues that in the 24 hours following the speech, more than 1,600 posts were identified on platform X containing alleged threats against Flávio and family members, with terms like "kill," "shoot," and "stab," totaling more than 14 million views.

Press quotes (3)
Band

"por menos do que isso, Joaquim Silvério dos Reis, que delatou Tiradentes foi enforcado. O que merecem os traidores da pátria que vão pedir intervenção de um país no nosso?"

InfoMoney

"nas 24 horas seguintes ao discurso, na plataforma X, foram identificadas mais de 1.600 postagens contendo supostas ameaças contra Flávio Bolsonaro e seus familiares. As publicações teriam usado termos como "matar", "fuzilar", "esfaquear" e "atentados"."

InfoMoney

"O conjunto de publicações teria alcançado mais de 14 milhões de visualizações, 900 mil curtidas e quase 200 mil compartilhamentos."

Nunes Marques has been president of the Superior Electoral Court since May 2026. This month, he made a monocratic decision favorable to Flávio Bolsonaro by suspending an AtlasIntel poll that showed a six-percentage-point drop in the senator's voting intention in a potential second round against Lula. The minister found there were "suspicions of voter induction" in questions that associated Flávio with the Master case.

Press quotes (2)
Band

"Neste mês, Nunes Marques tomou uma decisão favorável a Flávio Bolsonaro no Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE), corte que preside desde o fim de maio."

InfoMoney

"Em decisão monocrática, o ministro suspendeu pesquisa da AtlasIntel que apontava queda de seis pontos porcentuais na intenção de voto do senador em um eventual segundo turno contra Lula. Nunes Marques entendeu haver "suspeitas de indução ao eleitor" nas perguntas formuladas pelo instituto, que associavam Flávio ao caso Master."

As rapporteur, Nunes Marques has authority to decide monocratically on preliminary injunctions, dismiss the criminal complaint, or refer it for collegial judgment. The criminal complaint requests production of evidence and interrogation of the president by the STF, should the investigation be opened.

Press quotes (1)
Carta Capital

"Caso o inquérito seja aberto, a defesa de Flávio solicita a produção de prova e que o presidente seja interrogado pelo STF."

1. What we know (3)

Minister Kassio Nunes Marques was drawn as rapporteur for the criminal complaint on June 17, 2026.

3 sources Band Carta Capital InfoMoney

The action was filed on June 4, 2026, and requests the opening of an investigation against Lula for alleged threats and incitement to crime.

3 sources Band Carta Capital InfoMoney

Nunes Marques has presided over the TSE since May 2026 and recently suspended an AtlasIntel poll unfavorable to Flávio Bolsonaro.

2 sources Band InfoMoney
2. Where coverage thins out (4)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (4)

InfoMoney notes that Lula inverted the historical roles, attributing the hanging to Joaquim Silvério dos Reis when in reality Tiradentes was executed. Flávio's defense cites this confusion as evidence that the president confuses "hero with villain" also in the current political scenario.

Reported by: InfoMoney
Did not cover: Band Carta Capital Gazetadopovo

InfoMoney quantifies X posts: more than 1,600 with direct threats, another 500 with veiled threats, totaling more than 14 million views, 900,000 likes, and nearly 200,000 shares.

Reported by: InfoMoney
Did not cover: Band Carta Capital Gazetadopovo

CartaCapital contextualizes Lula's speech as criticism of Flávio and allies' action in the US encouraging the Trump government to apply trade sanctions against Brazil.

Reported by: Carta Capital
Did not cover: Band InfoMoney Gazetadopovo

CartaCapital cites that Flávio's defense mentions statistics of 68 Brazilian politicians murdered and 57 targeted in attacks between January 2016 and September 2020, including the stabbing of Jair Bolsonaro in 2018.

Reported by: Carta Capital
Did not cover: Band InfoMoney Gazetadopovo
3. What we don't know yet (5)
  • What is the formal process number (Inq., ADI, or other procedural class) in the STF system?

    Why it's still unknown: Attempt to obtain the canonical process number from the official STF portal failed. Press outlets confirm the filing date (June 4) and rapporteur assignment (June 17), but none cite the formal process number.

    Did not cover: Band Carta Capital InfoMoney Gazetadopovo
  • What is Nunes Marques's voting record in cases involving Bolsonaro, Lula, or analogous criminal matters at the STF?

    Why it's still unknown: No outlet presented analysis of the minister's decision-making trajectory in criminal matters or actions involving the same actors. The press mentions only the recent TSE decision on electoral polling, but not previous votes in the Supreme Court in similar cases.

    Did not cover: Band Carta Capital InfoMoney Gazetadopovo
  • What doctrinal test applies to criminal complaints against the President of the Republic, and what binding precedents guide the rapporteur?

    Why it's still unknown: No source discusses the jurisprudential framework governing this type of action — whether there are súmulas, general repercussion theses, or previous STF decisions establishing criteria for accepting or dismissing criminal complaints against the head of state.

    Did not cover: Band Carta Capital InfoMoney Gazetadopovo
  • Has there been any statement from the Attorney General's Office (AGU) or the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) regarding the action?

    Why it's still unknown: No outlet reports formal positioning from the AGU (which represents the Union and the president) or an opinion from the PGR. It is unclear whether these institutions have already been summoned to comment or whether they will do so only after the rapporteur's order.

    Did not cover: Band Carta Capital InfoMoney Gazetadopovo
  • Does Lula's historical error (attributing the hanging to Joaquim Silvério instead of Tiradentes) have legal consequences for the alleged criminal characterization?

    Why it's still unknown: InfoMoney records the factual error in Lula's speech, but no source discusses whether this imprecision affects the characterization of threat or incitement to crime — whether the error disqualifies the supposed intimidating message or is irrelevant for criminal purposes.

    Did not cover: Band Carta Capital Gazetadopovo

All sources

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