Brasilia Becomes a National Crisis Factory

By Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – While in public life, Marco Maciel from Pernambuco – vice-president of the governments of Fernando Henrique Cardoso – was noted for his defense of the parity of the Powers of the Republic. The concept advocates equality of forces between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial fields.

The three corners of State organization are independent under this institutional formula. It is assumed that a balanced relationship between them provides political stability for the country.

When friction occurs in the interaction between the Powers, the democratic environment suffers consequences. As a result, Brasilia becomes a crisis factory. This situation has lingered for some years in Brazil and has gained new elements in recent days.

The moves which have caused friction in the highest authorities of the State since Monday (15/04/19) stemmed from the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The decision taken by Minister Alexandre Moraes to censor the Crusoé and O Antagonista websites and to execute search warrants against people who have protested against the court has interfered with the balance between institutions.

The order issued by the Magistrate is part of the investigation opened on March 14th by Dias Toffoli, President of the Supreme Court, to examine false reports and slander connected to the STF. Unprecedented, the initiation of the investigation by the Supreme Court – the body in charge of judging the proceedings – caused a backlash among the Three Powers.

As a result of the negative repercussions, Davi Alcolumbre (DEM-AP), President of the Senate, determined that a proposal to set up a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee (CPI) to investigate the higher courts should return to the agenda.

Rejected by the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) and dubbed the “CPI’s Lava Toga” the initiative will be taken to Congress to be decided upon by Senators. Due to its potential to interfere with the balance of powers, the mere possibility of creating the committee is facing stiff resistance in the Judicial field.

The actions of Toffoli and Moraes clashed head-on with the position of Chief Federal Prosecutor Raquel Dodge. On the same Monday the Minister lowered the censorship, the Chief Federal Prosecutor ordered the closing of investigations opened by the President of the Supreme Court. Despite the interference of Raquel Dodge, Moraes extended the investigation by another 90 days, before finally backing down.

The actions of the two ministers of the STF also caused disturbance within the Government. Vice-president General Hamilton Mourão expressed opposition to the decision on the same day that the sites were censored. Without mincing his words, he named it censorship.

The search and seizure warrant executed by a decision of Moraes on Monday (15/04/19) in the home of retired General Paulo Chagas, a defeated candidate to the government of the Federal District and an ally of President Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) caused equal discomfort among the military, heavily represented in the government.