Supremocracy versus Bolsonarism

The Presence of STF Ministers in Public Debate during Bolsonaro's Government

Abstract

This research analyzes the public behavior of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) during the institutional crisis under Bolsonaro’s government, focusing on key events in 2020 and 2021, such as the resignation of Sérgio Moro, the spread of fake news about the STF’s role in the pandemic, and the attacks on September 7, 2021. The study seeks to understand the STF's narrative and counter-narrative strategies in response to Bolsonaro's public confrontations, exploring the institutional dynamics between both entities. The guiding questions were translated into specific objectives: (i) to understand the STF’s relationship with different audiences and its impact on the Court’s reputation; (ii) to identify the narratives and counter-narratives from both sides; (iii) to categorize these narratives to recognize patterns in ministerial behavior; and (iv) to observe potential behavioral shifts in the STF's narrative strategies. Preliminary findings indicate that, under pressure, the STF increasingly communicated with non-judicial audiences and that only in the final periods was there greater unity in responses to Bolsonarism. Interactions on X (formerly Twitter), delimited for analysis in this research, were particularly contentious, with the STF’s rhetoric oscillating between self-restraint and direct repression, especially in moments of heightened threat. This qualitative, empirical study used Lawrence Baum’s audience parameters and judicial reputation theories by Ginsburg and Garoupa, based on data collected from the official profiles of the involved agents