At the ceremony that opened Brazil’s 2026 judicial year on Monday (Feb. 2) at the Supreme Court in Brasília, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva praised the trial for attempted coup d’état that convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro, military personnel, and allied politicians.

Lula stated that he begins the year with renewed confidence and hope because “the institutions have fulfilled their role.”

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“Hope because Brazil has once again demonstrated that it is much bigger than any coup plotters or traitors to the homeland,” said the president, who also recalled that Brazil suffered external attacks in 2025.

“Brazil responded with dignity, based on international law, with the strength of its institutions and, above all, with the legitimacy conferred by the people. We reaffirm that no nation is built under guardianship, and that Brazilian democracy does not bow to pressure and intimidation from anyone,” he declared.

The Brazilian leader also cited the risks of misinformation for the 2026 elections. He said that operations against wealthy criminals by the Federal Police should continue and that a pact between the three branches of government to combat femicide is expected to be launched next Wednesday (4).

Coup plot

President Lula pointed out that the judiciary has been the guardian of both the Constitution and the popular vote, and denied that the Supreme Court had sought any leading role or assumed powers belonging to other branches.

“By acting in accordance with the law, the justices of the Supreme Court faced all sorts of pressure and even death threats. Even so, they did not shy away from their constitutional commitment,” he noted.

The president added that the criminal prosecution of the coup plot represented a historic milestone in Brazilian democracy, which emerged stronger from the attempted coup led by officials and military personnel from the previous administration.

“The conviction of the coup plotters sent a clear message – those responsible for any future attempt to disrupt democracy will be punished to the full extent of the law,” he stated.

Brazil’s Supreme Court Chief Edson Fachin said on Monday (Jan. 26) that democracy in Brazil and across the Americas is facing “challenging times.”

The justice’s statement was made during the inauguration of Rodrigo Mudrovitsch, a Brazilian judge, as president of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica.

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Fachin cited the convictions of those involved in the January 8, 2023, coup attempts and stated that the three branches of the Brazilian government faced “dark forces” seeking a coup d’état.

“The democratic rule of law is going through challenging times. Later this month, we will mark three years since an episode occurred that tested the strength of our democratic institutions and constitutional justice,” Fachin noted.

The justice also said that the erosion of democratic institutions represents a new form of attempt to undermine democracy.

“Authoritarian movements that seek to supplant democracy do not always show themselves in their most strident and explicitly violent form. Today, we are witnessing a movement with a new guise, although equally harmful in its effects. Erosion of democracy corrodes institutions from within,” he added.