São Paulo business leaders who signed the manifesto “For the Law and for Brazil, Manifesto for the Integrity of Institutions and the Three Branches,” released on September 9, 2026, say they received phone calls from Brasília officials with an intimidating tone. The calls asked them to withdraw their signatures from the document, which contains criticism of the Supreme Federal Court (STF).
According to accounts, the callers allegedly warned of the possibility of cases being reopened or of setbacks in pending court proceedings if the business leaders kept backing the manifesto. The information was reported by commentator Caio Junqueira on CNN Brasil’s WW program. A source interviewed by Gazeta do Povo confirmed being aware of similar approaches.
Positions and Responses
Pedro Wongtschowski, former CEO of Ultrapar and current chairman of the Higher Council for Innovation and Competitiveness of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), one of the organizers of the initiative for changes at the STF, said he was not aware of these episodes. The Supreme Court’s press office also said it had no knowledge of the cases mentioned.
Wongtschowski confirmed that the group’s discussions are continuing and that there will be a meeting after the STF session scheduled for September 15, 2026.
Companies and Cases Pending at the STF
The manifesto has 157 signatories, including business leaders and company representatives, some with appeals pending before the Court on matters involving labor relations, outsourcing and tax issues. Some notable cases stand out:
- Itaú Unibanco: Former CEO Cândido Bracher is among the signatories. The bank is a party to cases handled by justices involved in the current tension at the STF. In constitutional complaint (Rcl) 77,179, Itaú is appealing a decision by the Superior Labor Court, with Justice Gilmar Mendes as rapporteur. The appeal was filed in March 2025.
- Magazine Luiza: The company linked to Luiza Helena and Frederico Trajano has complaints assigned at the Supreme Court to different justices, including Gilmar Mendes and Cristiano Zanin, related to Labor Court decisions. The company is subject to individual rulings by justices on several fronts.
- Vale: The mining company, associated with former CEO Eduardo Bartolomeo, has complaints at the STF involving labor disputes and outsourcing. In one case, the company appealed to ensure the application of positions already established by the Court on hiring through legal entities. In April 2026, another complaint was assigned, with Justice Alexandre de Moraes as rapporteur.
- iFood: In the digital platforms sector, CEO Diego Barreto, also a signatory, took part in a public hearing at the STF on the employment relationship between platforms and delivery workers. In a case handled by Cristiano Zanin, the court is debating whether to recognize or reject an employment relationship for the company’s delivery workers.
Besides these examples, other sectors are also represented in the document and face cases at the Supreme Court on similar issues.
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