Brazil in Focus 09/2026

The new edition of Brazil in Focus brings together three analyses on the legitimacy crisis facing Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court (STF) and the challenges this poses for the country’s democratic institutions. Humberto Dantas examines the political and institutional factors that have placed the Court at the center of Brazil’s political disputes. José Mário Wanderley Gomes Neto argues that the current crisis offers an opportunity for institutional reforms aimed at strengthening collective decision-making, accountability, and the Court’s constitutional role. Luíza Pavan Ferraro complements this perspective by reflecting on the broader causes and consequences of the crisis, emphasizing the need to rethink not only the STF itself but also the wider justice system. Together, the articles explore the challenges of restoring public trust, safeguarding the rule of law, and reinforcing the foundations of Brazilian democracy.