Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), said on Monday (11) that the Federal Constitution of 1988 gave a “enough of coup” by strengthening the judiciary with independence and autonomy to judge according to the law, without “internal or external” pressures.
The magistrate is a rapporteur of the coup attempt process in which former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) is defendant accused of leading after losing 2022 elections. Moraes’ performance in other cases led the United States government to sanction it in an attempt to influence its decisions.
Moraes received the necklace of the Merit of the Court of Auditors, an honor granted by the Court of Auditors of the State of São Paulo (TCE-SP) to those who contributed to the control of accounts in the State. He also held the opening lecture of the XXIII Legal Week of the Court.
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The other authorities of the judiciary who spoke provided solidarity with the STF minister and his family, who was present. The sanction to Moraes was considered inadmissible by the speakers. “I just want to thank all the speakers who followed my talk. To thank my heart in my name and my family,” the minister said at the end.
In his lecture, Moraes stated that the constituent legislator ended the possibility of intruding the Armed Forces in Brazilian politics by choosing to strengthen the judiciary in the face of the realization that the legislature alone could not face or put brakes to what he called “armed populism” before 1988.
“The constituent legislator has conceived independence and autonomy to the judiciary. Financial, administrative and functional autonomy. And to its members, full independence. Independence to judge in accordance with the Constitution and the legislation, without internal, external pressures or any kind of pressures,” said Moraes.
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He, however, warned: “We all know that the text of the Constitution gives the necessary instruments to the institutions but each of us has to play their role to strengthen them.”
The minister was announced as guest of honor with the president of the court, Antonio Roque Citadini. The two were applauded standing by the present for about a minute. The minister raised both thumbs, as a sign of approval. The minister’s wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes, and the couple’s children were present in the audience.
As Estadão showed, the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans-SP), did not attend the tribute. At the same time, he participated in the delivery of security cameras for Military Police and the Metropolitan Civil Guard. The event took place in the Anhangabaú Valley, about a kilometer from the ceremony held at TCE-SP, in Sé, in downtown São Paulo. The State Attorney General, Inês Coimbra, represented the Paulista Executive.
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Tarcisio criticized Moraes’s decision to put Bolsonaro in house arrest. The governor, however, did not expressly cite the minister or the Supreme Court, which displeases the most radical wing of pockets.
The governor’s absence contrasts with the attitude adopted by him in May 2024. During the celebration of the TCE-SP centenary, he made a joke with Moraes, who had spoken before him. “May the next 100 years come. I will not be here, no. Minister Alexandre said he wants to be here in the next 100 years,” said the governor.
In his speech, Moraes said that despite the advances promoted by the current Constitution, Brazil has not had a “brigadeiro sky” in recent decades. He quoted two impeachments and January 8, which he described as an attempt to coup, and stated that the institutions knew how to act “within what the Constitution established.”
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“With errors and hits, because this is part of any institution consisting of humans and this is exactly why the judiciary is a collegiate body: for errors to diminish and some correct the mistakes of others. But we can really celebrate that the independence and autonomy given to the judiciary by the Constitution in 1998 ensured the strengthening of institutions and democracy in Brazil,” said Moraes.
As Estadão anticipated, the event was marked before the crisis with the US, but gained airs of solidarity to Moraes after it was announced as a speaker. Several authorities defended the stance of the magistrate and the Supreme Court.
“It is very vehement that I reproduce the excerpt that says it is inadmissible that the legitimate exercise of legal attributions by a magistrate of the highest court of this country motivates sanction by head of foreign government,” said Paulo Sérgio de Oliveira and Costa, Attorney General of São Paulo.
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He also mentioned Moraes’s wife. “And here, minister, thank you very much. I want to thank you not only to the Lord, but honor Dr. Viviane as well as her children present here. What shows even more than what goes beyond the figure of public authority to reach her family is something this country can not admit under any circumstances,” continued the Attorney General.
The Minister of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) Floriano Marques made a double thanks to Moraes and the minister’s family.
“The first thanks is for Vivi, Lelê, Gabi and Juju because they are Minister Alexandre’s affective mainstay. It is not easy. And I tell you that part of this courage came from the family of Minister Alexandre. Thank you for the burden of accompanying the man who is simply doing his duty,” he said.
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“And finally, Minister Alexandre, thanks for being fundamental so that our children do not return to live in dictatorial regime as our generation saw finish,” concluded the TSE minister.
The ceremony ended with “Do not let samba die”, one of the minister’s favorite songs according to the event’s ceremonial.
There was a small protest against Moraes in front of the TCE-SP building. Less than ten people were on site, wrapped in Brazilian flags and with mouths in the mouth, symbolizing an alleged censorship imposed by the STF minister.
