The role of the (Supreme Federal Court) is excessive, and this is something that the court itself recognizes, said the minister this Tuesday (7) in a lecture at Ciesp (Center for Industries of the State of São Paulo).
“I recognize, the Supreme Court himself recognizes, that it is excessive, but, again, [ele] it stems from a constitutional model and a provocation that comes from politics”, said Barroso. “No Power can be hegemonic in a Republic and, therefore, everything has the right measure.”
The minister highlighted, on the other hand, that this same arrangement was what allowed the country to enjoy the period of democratic stability. “I would not dismiss the role that the court has been able to play in these 37 years of democracy.”
Barroso also addressed the broadcasts on TV Justiça, which, according to him, give ministers unprecedented public exposure and visibility in the world. He said, for example, that no one recognized the president of the German Constitutional Court when he walked with him through the country’s streets.
In Brazil, he stated, “when the minister votes, he votes for his colleagues, trying to demonstrate the arguments for his vote, but he also votes for the public who is watching him so that they can understand what is going on.”
In addition to the role of the STF, the seminar led by the minister focused on judicialization in Brazil and the assessment of the minister’s management at the head of the court and the (National Council of Justice) from 2023 to 2025. He was succeeded a week ago.
Barroso’s tenure at the Supreme Court was marked by trials on marijuana, the prison system and the Marco Civil da Internet, but reached its peak with the conviction of the former president () and seven more for attempted coup d’état.
“Now that the trial is over and the evidence is public, there is no doubt that there was a plan: Punhal Verde Amarelo, which planned the assassination of the elected president, the vice president and a Supreme Court minister, documented, printed and circulated.”
Regarding the 8th of January, he stated that, “in Brazil, people go from indignation to pity quite quickly, but the truth is that we cannot take for granted that whoever loses elections can invade public buildings.”
The minister reinforced, however, that some sentences, especially for those who carried out the coup plot, not those responsible for the coup plot, were increased and stated that it was reasonable not to add the sentences for the crimes of coup d’état and violet abolition of the democratic rule of law — something discussed in Congress.
At the end of the talk, he said that “he was a judge for 12 years”, adding “I was, no, I am”. The statement was given at a time of speculation about the possibility of Barroso bringing forward the Supreme Court’s retirement.
the minister narrated that he was committed to leaving the court after the end of his term as president: “Leaving the Supreme Court is a possibility, but it is not a certainty. I have not truly made that decision yet”, he added.
