Reopening of the STF: Rosa Weber says that scammers will be punished

Brasilia DF) – The President of the STF (Federal Supreme Court), Minister Rosa Weber, opened the judicial year of 2023 with a speech with messages to the coup leaders who destroyed the headquarters of the three Powers on January 8, whom she called “enemies of freedom”, promised hold everyone accountable and said democracy “remains unshakable”.

The statement was given during his speech at the formal opening session of the activities, this Wednesday (1). This was the first session held in court after the destruction of its main building by coup plotters supporting former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

“Possessed with irrational, almost pathological hatred, the vandals, with total disregard for the republic and imbued with the audacity of ignorance, destroyed public goods subject to special protection, such as
those listed as historical heritage, furniture, carpets and works of art”,

said.

The minister also stated that the coup plotters “in deplorable fury shattered windows, mirrors and lamps, broke panels, countertops and marble, tore up portraits and books, destroyed digital and audio and video equipment, cameras, computers and printers, engendering a scenario of chaos to provoke a feeling of profound revulsion in the face of such indignity.”

“But I warn you. They did not destroy the spirit of democracy. They have not been and will never be able to subvert it, because the feeling of respect for the democratic order continues and will continue to illuminate the minds and hearts of the judges of this Supreme Court, who will not hesitate to always make the ethical and political foundations that inform and give sustaining the democratic rule of law”.

said the minister.

The president of the court gave a speech of about 30 minutes and was applauded for more than one moment, especially when she spoke about punishments for coup plotters. At the end of the speech, the minister was moved and her voice choked.

“Those who conceived it [a violência], those who practiced it, those who inspired it and those who financed it will be held accountable with the rigor of the law in the different spheres. Only in this way will the constitutional order be reaffirmed, always in compliance with due legal process, safeguarding, for all those involved, the guarantees of the adversarial system and full defense, as required and provided for by the criminal procedure of a democratic nature”, he said.

There are inquiries at the Supreme Court to investigate the coup acts of January 8, with separate investigations to investigate financiers, executors and “intellectual authors”. In addition, there are already more than 200 prisoners for the attacks on the headquarters of the three Powers and several search and seizure operations have taken place.

Also participating in the ceremony were the Presidents of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), of the Federal Senate, Senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG).

In his speech, the president of the OAB, Beto Simonetti, said that the entity “has followed the progress of the processes, to demand the accountability of the guilty ones”, but also “respect for the due process of law, the contradictory and the prerogatives of the advocacy”. .

“It doesn’t matter who is accused or what the accusation is. All are equal before the law and must have access to due process of law.”

stated.

In the early afternoon, court ministers participated in a collective hug at the main building of the STF. They joined hands with court officials and circled around the building.

The president, Rosa Weber, and ministers Luís Roberto Barroso, Alexandre de Moraes, Edson Fachin, Cármen Lúcia, Kassio Nunes Marques and André Mendonça were at the event – ​​the last two were nominated for the Supreme by former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Rosa received a marble cross made from the rubble of the attack on the STF as a gift from the servers. The marble was from the pieces that supported statues of busts of jurists that were in one of the halls of the building.

“It’s a marvel, it’s a beauty, it’s a happiness to have you [o Supremo Tribunal Federal] reconstituted, as we have it today. This is thanks to the collective work of you, our servants, our collaborators and, of course, our dear ministers —and I [risos]. We, all together”, said the minister.

“This is a date of reconstruction and a date of reconstitution, it is a date of life and prevalence of the democratic rule of law and democracy. This is the most beautiful hug I’ve seen in my entire life, which is already long, ”he said.

At the opening of the work of the STJ (Superior Court of Justice), the president of the court, Maria Thereza de Assis Moura, also mentioned the attacks of the last day 8 in her speech.

“If the aggressions that took place on January 8 shocked the nation, they had, on the other hand, the effect of revealing how solid the bond between our institutions and the Brazilian people is with democracy”, said Maria Thereza.

“May the events reinforce solidarity and a sense of unity in favor of the country’s supreme interests, and further strengthen the commitment to the democratic rule of law,” said the minister.

“Above all, let us be united — society, the Judiciary, the Legislative and the Executive — in the task of building the foundations of a country that is fair, solidary and that promotes the good of all, without prejudice of origin, race, gender, color , age or any other forms of discrimination, as directed by our Constitution.”

After the hug, the first judgment session of the year took place. As of this Wednesday, ministers will return to the physical plenary judgment sessions, which take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Rosa left themes that question the power of the Federal Public Ministry and the Attorney General of the Republic, Augusto Aras, for this semester when he resumes activities.

*With information from Folha

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