Good morning! This week, we unpack the latest episode of institutional crisis unleashed by President Bolsonaro, this time opposing the Supreme Court and the Armed Forces — as well as its possible effects on the economy. Plus, a look into Brazil’s “shadow epidemic.”
Supreme Court justice brings Armed Forces to the fight
On Sunday, Supreme Court Justice Luís Roberto Barroso said the Armed Forces have been “instructed” to attack the country’s electoral system. Without naming President Jair Bolsonaro, Justice Barroso mentioned an effort to bring the military into “petty politics,” which he said was a “tragedy” for democracy.
- While the justice’s words are not wrong, they sparked a reaction from the barracks, which saw them as slanderous.
- Defense Minister Paulo Sérgio Nogueira published a statement calling the justice’s comments “irresponsible” and “gravely offensive” to the military.
Context. For years, President Jair Bolsonaro has challenged the legitimacy of the Brazilian electronic voting system — without ever presenting evidence to corroborate his claims. In recent months, the Armed Forces have tacitly backed Mr. Bolsonaro, going as far as formally questioning several points of the electoral system in December.
- For the first time ever, electoral courts included the Armed Forces on the so-called Elections...