Brazil’s democracy is put to the test as former President Jair Bolsonaro stands trial before the Constitutional Court, marking a historic moment for the country’s institutions.
Brazil’s democracy has been the subject of intense debate in recent years. While some argue that it is inefficient and biased, others see it as a strong and resilient institution.
Brazil's democratic system was established in 1889, following a military coup that overthrew the Empire.
The country has since transitioned through various forms of government, including a republic and a dictatorship.
In 1985, Brazil returned to democracy after 21 years under military rule.
Today, Brazil is a federal presidential constitutional republic with a multi-party system.
Its democratic institutions are robust, but corruption remains a significant challenge.
The Trial of Jair Bolsonaro: A Historic Moment for Brazilian Democracy
The trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro before the Constitutional Court is already historic. For the first time since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985, high-ranking military officers are standing trial before a civilian court. In addition to Bolsonaro, 33 further people have been charged, including former ministers and generals.
Jair Bolsonaro is a Brazilian politician who served as the 38th President of Brazil from 2019 to 2023.
Born on October 21, 1955, in Goiniás, Minas Gerais, he rose to prominence as a congressman and senator before his presidential campaign.
Bolsonaro's presidency was marked by controversy over environmental policies, particularly regarding the Amazon rainforest.
He has also been criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his views on social issues.
According to a 2020 survey, 53% of Brazilians disapproved of his performance as president.
According to Brazilian political scientist Carlos Pereira from the University Fundacao Getulio Vargas, the criticism of Brazil’s judiciary is actually a sign of its strength. ‘Those who lose always accuse the judiciary of being biased and unjust,’ he told DW. When Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was convicted and arrested for corruption in 2018, Lula‘s left-wing supporters had made the same argument.
The Institutions of Brazilian Democracy
Pereira believes that the ‘expensive and inefficient’ interaction between Brazil’s judiciary, parliament and government is precisely what prevents governments from implementing plans quickly. ‘The government always lacks the majorities in Congress, no one can rule alone, it has to be negotiated, and this preserves democracy,’ he explained.
There has not been a president in Brazil with a stable majority in Congress since the first free elections after the end of the military dictatorship in 1989. A US-style merger of the legislative and executive branches against the judiciary, where judges are nominated by parliament, is inconceivable in Brazil, Pereira said.
Repeated Impeachments: A Test of Brazilian Institutions
So far, two presidents have been removed from office in Brazil. In 1992, President Fernando Collor de Melo was removed from office by Congress in impeachment proceedings due to corruption, and in 2016 the country’s first female president, Dilma Rousseff, was impeached for tax and budgetary offenses.
Social Polarization: A Growing Concern
Despite the strength of Brazilian institutions, social polarization is a growing concern. During the latest demonstrations last weekend in Sao Paulo, the extent of this split was evident. Pro-Bolsonaro participant Ana Oliveira is convinced that ‘all right-wing politicians in Brazil are persecuted as right-wing extremists.’ Another demonstrator interpreted the events of January 8, 2023, as a ‘vendetta‘ by President Lula.
Social polarization refers to the division of a society into two or more groups with different values, beliefs, and interests.
This phenomenon is characterized by increased conflict, decreased social cohesion, and a widening of ideological divides.
According to a Pew Research Center study, 64% of Americans believe that 'society is becoming more divided.'
Social media platforms have been criticized for exacerbating polarization by creating echo chambers where individuals are exposed only to information that reinforces their existing views.
Even though the people interviewed at the demonstration were all certain that Bolsonaro will run in the 2026 presidential elections, experts consider this to be basically impossible. The ex-president has already been convicted of abuse of power and spreading fake news by the Brazilian Supreme Electoral Court and is therefore banned from running for political office until 2030.
A Complex Balance
Brazil’s democracy is a complex balance of strengths and weaknesses. While it faces challenges, including social polarization and inefficiencies in its institutions, it has also proven to be resilient and capable of punishing misconduct, regardless of whether it is a right-wing or left-wing government. As Pereira said, ‘The judiciary is not getting weaker based on the perception of people who are currently on the losing side.‘
