Brazil falls into the ranking of democracy of The Economist

In its report, the intelligence sector of The Economist (EIU), which elaborated the index, considers that the STF “exceeded the boundaries” when temporarily suspended social network X during the election period and threatened to impose heavy fines on those who used virtual private networks (VPNs) to access X. The publication states that “restricting access to a large social media platform, not several weeks, not several weeks, not several weeks, not for several weeks, not several weeks has precedents between democratic countries. “

“The censorship of a group of users has exceeded the boundaries of what can be considered a reasonable restriction on freedom of expression, especially in the midst of an election campaign,” the text continues.

“Making certain illegal discourses based on vague definitions is an example of the politicization of the judiciary. The decision not only causes an inhibiting effect on freedom of expression, but also establishes a precedent for the courts to censor political discourse, which may unduly influence political results,” says the report that the X lasted two months and affected the access of dozens of millions to one of the most used social networks in social networks Brazil.

The Economist also mentioned that since 2019, the Supreme Court has been conducting “controversial investigations into the spread of alleged misinformation that attack Brazil’s electoral and democratic institutions, in reference to the fake news survey.

Another point cited in the survey of The Economist It warns that Brazil’s score was also negatively impacted by new details of the investigation into an alleged stroke of state frustrated in 2022 against then -president -elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) and STF members. Former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and 33 others were reported by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR).

For the British magazine, the case suggests that Brazilian military continues to have a negative view of the civil government, even 40 years after the end of the military dictatorship, as well as indicating a “worrying tolerance for political violence,” something absent in more consolidated democracies. THE The Economist It also mentions the attack of the bomb man near the Supreme Court in November 2024.

This whole scenario caused Brazil to lose points in the “civil freedom” and “government function”. The study also takes into account “electoral process”, in which Brazil has its highest grade, “political participation” and “political culture” to classify countries in full democracies, faults, hybrid regimes and authoritarian regimes.

The Economist also evaluates that the “high levels of party polarization led to the emergence of the zero sum policy (situation in which the gain of one part corresponds to the loss of the other), resulting in the politicization of Brazilian institutions and increasing political violence”.

International law expert Luiz Augusto Módolo, commenting on Brazil’s fall in the survey by The Economist, pointed to irony by remembering that the defense of democracy was adopted by the STF and the Lula administration.

“Ironically, in recent years, the word democracy has never been mentioned by the powerful of Brazil and the traditional press, with several saviors of it being greeted as such. Even Lula’s election in 2022 was improperly treated as an event that preserved democracy, but curiously we became a weaker democracy, ”he says.

The expert recalls the dismantling of Lava Jato and political opponents being alied from the electoral disputes and “an increasing interference of the judiciary in politics and in the daily lives of Brazilians.”

For public law expert Márcio Nunes, the survey only reinforces what was expected. “We have seen, increasingly and more often the judiciary, the Supreme Court interfering with decisions that would not fit them, often in arbitrary conditions. This can stimulate the political polarization process in the country, ”he says.

In the topic where he warns of possible errors to representative democracy in Brazil, the study concludes that it was no surprise when asked if they believe that freedom of expression is guaranteed in Brazil, almost 64% of Brazilians said that it is inappropriate or not guaranteed – the number in question is significantly higher than the regional average of 45%.

The data based on the statement are 2023, released last year, and were carried out by the Latinobarometer an annual public opinion research that covers several Latin American countries, measuring citizens’ attitudes and opinions on political, economic and social issues.

“In addition, 62% of Brazilians say they do not express their opinions about the problems that the country faces, according to the 2024 Latinobarometer survey. This number only loses to El Salvador and is well above the regional average of 44%.”