TSE President Kassio Nunes Marques sings samba at inauguration party; most STF justices absent

The recent inauguration of Kassio Nunes Marques as the new president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) was marked by a lively samba celebration, complete with performances by renowned artists Jorge Aragão, Sombrinha, Dudu Nobre, and Ivo Meirelles. The event, held Tuesday night, featured musical tributes to Marques, including altered lyrics of classic samba songs. Notably, Marques himself took to the stage to sing the samba-enredo "É hoje," adding a personal touch to the festivities.

However, the celebratory atmosphere was somewhat overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of a majority of Supreme Court (STF) ministers. Apart from Marques and Vice President André Mendonça, only the court's dean, Gilmar Mendes, was present, accompanied by his girlfriend, TST minister Morgana de Almeida. This low attendance from the highest judicial body has drawn attention, especially given the presence of other dignitaries, including the Attorney General Paulo Gonet, ministers from the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), federal deputies Arthur Lira and Orlando Silva, and União Brasil party president Antônio Rueda.

Adding to the event's unique character, the dinner organized in Marques's honor by the Association of Federal Judges of Brazil (Ajufe) had tickets priced at R$ 800, which sold out quickly. The celebration took place at the Villa Rizza venue in Brasília, which can accommodate up to 800 guests. Before the dinner, Marques had hosted around 1,500 authorities at the TSE. The menu featured dishes like filet mignon with madeira sauce and sea bass with lemon sauce, accompanied by Angelica Zapata wine and Casa Valduga sparkling wine. Marques, appointed to the Supreme Court in 2020 following influence from senators Flávio Bolsonaro and Ciro Nogueira, has a background as a federal judge, appointed in 2011 during Dilma Rousseff's presidency due to his political connections. From a Brazilian perspective, as covered by Folha de S.Paulo, such events blend judicial duties with cultural expression, reflecting a certain style of public life where personal connections and celebratory gestures play a role, even in formal inaugurations. The low STF turnout, however, might suggest underlying dynamics or priorities within the court that differ from the celebratory tone of the TSE event.