Fachin maintains Master investigation at the STF to protect ministers
Understand why Edson Fachin decided to keep the investigation into Banco Master under the STF presidency while returning the INSS case to André Mendonça.
TL;DR
- STF President Edson Fachin will keep the Banco Master investigation under his authority.
- The inquiry into INSS fraud discounts has been returned to Minister André Mendonça.
- The Master case is sensitive due to allegations of proximity between the bank's former controller and STF ministers.
- Fachin's decision to retain the Master case is seen as a strategic move to manage institutional crises and protect the court's image.
- A previous conflict between Ministers Mendonça and Alexandre de Moraes over the investigations led Fachin to take 'possession' of the cases in September 2026.
- The INSS case involves alleged fraud against retirees and political figures.
- The Master case might be redistributed to a new rapporteur depending on the court's internal balance.
- The INSS case will proceed with Mendonça, while the Master case awaits a plenary decision on investigating its own members.