Senador eleito Marcel van Hattem announced plans to push for the impeachment of Supreme Federal Court Minister Gilmar Mendes starting February 1, 2027, following a public exchange on social media regarding the recent national election results.
The confrontation unfolded on the platform X after Minister Gilmar Mendes published commentary on the first-round election results. The magistrate pointed out that tight electoral contests were accepted without notable challenges to the voting system. Van Hattem (Novo) used his profile on Tuesday to address the minister directly, stating that with the beginning of the next legislative session, he will begin working toward the removal of Mendes and other members of the court.
Marcel van Hattem told Poder360, And on February 1, 2027, we will begin working toward your impeachment and that of some of your colleagues.
In response to the minister’s observation that no prominent political figures contested the outcomes, Van Hattem used his social media account to outline his legislative intentions for the upcoming term. The newly elected senator from Rio Grande do Sul stated that the push would target multiple members of the court, adding that democracy and institutions will return to functioning fully.
Legislative Shifts and Senate Numbers for 2027
The threat arrives as the political alignment of the upper house undergoes a distinct transition.
That total comprises 33 senators elected on October 4 alongside 16 incumbents holding mandates through 2031. Within that contingent, the Liberal Party accounted for 19 newly elected lawmakers.
Requirements for Supreme Court Impeachment Trials
Advancing an impeachment process against a Supreme Court magistrate requires a substantial legislative threshold. Condemning a member of the court demands 54 votes, representing a two-thirds majority of the 81 total senators.
While the broader conservative expansion does not instantly guarantee a ready majority for removing justices, a study by the research center Ranking dos Políticos indicates that the upcoming Senate will reach that exact threshold. The organization’s assessment reviewed public declarations from both current lawmakers continuing their terms and candidates elected on October 4.
Reactions to Electronic Voting and Electoral Results
The public clash began when Gilmar Mendes emphasized that candidates accepted close margins without questioning the reliability of the ballot boxes.
It is striking that no prominent political leadership questioned this type of result, obtained through the same electronic voting system used in the 2018 and 2022 elections. Gilmar
The minister highlighted that the electronic voting system functioned identically to the technology deployed during the contests of 2018 and 2022. Beyond the incoming senator’s direct reply, other users on the platform also criticized the magistrate’s post as the political debate over the judiciary’s role intensifies ahead of the 2027 legislative opening.