In the most polarized scenario of Brazil’s politics, Alexandre de Moraes might steal the spotlight
As a Supreme Federal Court’s (STF) minister and president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Alexandre de Moraes, in the last few years, constructed a mystery behind his name in the Judiciary. The Brazilian journalist, Thais Bilenky, in a succinct and objective script, presents his complex and questionable figure, who turns out to be loved or hated, feared or respected.
Bringing the whole panorama of Alexandre in politics, Thais explains how he has become an instrument of dialogue between the forces of public security institutions, a recent ally of the left-wing and an anguish for the right-wing within the Brazilian political spectrum.
Old times/background
Graduated in law school, Alexandre initially occupied the political scene managing positions such as a prosecutor of São Paulo or a chief in the Public Security Secretariat, for example. Maintaining an advocacy office, he had clients like Eduardo Cunha and Aécio Neves, politicians often involved in great scandals.
During the protests of June 2013, commanding military police, his name was constantly brought to the headlines when those forces acted in a repressive manner to the protestors, receiving many criticisms. However, in the last few years, it is evident an established bond with left-wing ideals based on Alexandre recent Court’s decisions.
The protests of 2013 were large demonstrations that marked the popular dissatisfaction of the time.
Therefore, his political trajectory can be surrounded by contradictions and different relations with the Brazilian left and right-wings. A very striking example was in 2016, when he assumed the position of Minister of Justice and Public Security in Michael Temer’s government. Temer is an ex-president involved in the impeachment articulation of Dilma Rousseff in 2016. As the vice president of her government, he could take the position of Executive’s Chief until the year of 2018.
It was widely discussed, at the time, the rise of right-wing ideals, the media influence on anti-corruption discourses and a partiality in the Brazilian judicial system.
It is necessary to mention that Dilma was recently considered innocent by the Federal Regional Court. Also, by majority, STF ministers decided to maintain her political rights. Indicated by Lula, Dilma was elected president of the Bank of BRICS until 2025.
Back in 2017, Alexandre reached the Court’s chair indicated by Temer and since then, has grown in politics.
At the time, having a very close relationship with Temer, years later, in 2023, Alexandre could be part of the decision whether to maintain or not Dilma’s political rights. It is clear the historical friction between some names, and Thais Bilenky reveals Alexandre as this multifaceted persona.
Now, having a chair in the Supreme Court and in the Superior Electoral Court, it is discussed how much power he has been given.
The third figure
In the last years, Alexandre got notorious for reiterating a speech of defense of democracy, freedom of expression and combating fake news. In the last election, when Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was named president, Thais affirmed that, on October 30th, 2022, there were two winners: Lula and Alexandre.
A confrontation with Jair Bolsonaro was wide open in the press. The ex-president did not hesitate to curse Alexandre in a public square. The separation of the Executive from the Judiciary does not favor the functionality of a government, and Bolsonaro made it pretty clear announcing that would no longer attend to the orders of the Court.
During his mandate, Bolsonaro personified an enormous comeback of extreme-right ideals, raising supporters and parliamentarians in Congress who helped spread invalid information such as doubts about the legitimacy of the electronic ballot boxes. Even after the defeat in a tense and disputed election, his followers called for military intervention, while there were great articulations for a supposed coup d’état.
In this context, Alexandre de Moraes made it evident that he would put all his effort and adopt the necessary measures in favor of the Constitution regularity. He opened judicial inquiries in the Supreme Court, being the rapporteur to investigate the fake news’ propagation and the ones involved in anti-democratic acts, ordering the arrest of many figures close to the government of Bolsonaro.
The 8th January episode caught the attention of the global media. Similar to the US Capitol attack by Donald Trump’s followers in 2021, the vandalism to the Three Powers of the Republic was an offensive to national democracy, but Alexandre used a direct dialogue to the public security institutions to overcome the coup’s attempt.
From now on
Alexandre is a common target of threats, offenses and intimidation from the opposition of the actual government of Lula.
Revealing himself as a clear defender of truth and the electoral system, the same way Alexandre dealt with the blocking of the roads, as a part of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) during the second round of the last elections, now the Court has been judging the defendants of the 8th January coup.
Also, by majority, the Electoral Court (TSE) made Bolsonaro ineligible for eight years.
However, many in the political and legal spheres began to criticize Alexander’s decisions, affirming him as a concentrated power on the Supreme Court that would influence the conduct of legal proceedings.
Thais Bilenky illuminates the stage of the political theater, presenting the characters, but never revealing the final scene. As a journalist, she recalls the events of recent years, explaining political positions and institutions. Thus, even those who do not speak or understand the political language, through Thais’ simple way of explaining things, can now become fluent at it.
In 2029, Alexandre de Moraes might become the president of the Supreme Court, dominating the national Justice system. A symbol of democracy or the representation of authority abuse, Alexandre has demonstrated that the ones who disqualify the Brazilian democracy will suffer consequences.
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The article above was edited by Ana Beatriz Aith.
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