STF: The Economist fuels a coup-mongering narrative

247 – The president of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF), Justice Luís Roberto Barroso, responded this Saturday (19) to a report published by the British magazine The Economist, which criticized the Court’s actions against pro-Bolsonaro coup plotters and directly attacked Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

The Economist failed to mention that Brazilian democracy, with vital from the STF, resisted serious threats from the far-right.

The statement emphasizes that the coup-related crimes are being tried with full respect for due process. The public's trust in the STF remains high. According to Barroso, the Court's decisions are based on criminal acts, and the actions taken against foreign digital platforms were due to their lack of legal representation in Brazil.

 “The focus of the article aligns more with the narrative of those who attempted a coup than with the actual fact that Brazil is living a full democracy, with the rule of law, checks and balances, and respect for fundamental rights,” Barroso said.

In one of the reports published last week, Moraes is criticized for supposedly “excessively concentrating power” in his hands.

In response, the STF defended the justice, praising his “commitment and courage.”

The Economist even suggests that the Court should “moderate” its behavior and accuses Moraes of leading a “personal campaign.” At the same time, the magazine concedes: “He receives constant death threats. These threats seem to energize him and have given his rulings an absolutist tone.”

The articles come at a moment when Jair Bolsonaro is on the verge of being convicted by the STF for leading the January 8, 2023, coup attempt.