On 3 June, President Lula da Silva promulgated Law No. 1958/2021, which expands the share of new positions in the federal public service that are reserved for minority groups from 20 to 30 per cent and adds Indigenous and Quilombola (descendants of enslaved people) as potential beneficiaries of the quota system. The new law replaces Law No. 12,990/2014, in place since 2014, which had reserved 20 per cent of federal employment vacancies for Black or mixed-race people but did not include Indigenous or Quilombola groups. The measure was presented as an effort to continue addressing structural inequalities in the country and to create public offices that are more reflective and representative of Brazilian society. The law is the result of broad discussions over two years that included parliamentarians, civil society, and oversight agencies. The new quota system will be reviewed after ten years.

Sources: CNN, Presidencia Brasil, AP news

On 26 June, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) ruled that parts of Article 19 of the Internet Civil Rights Framework are unconstitutional, as they fail to protect fundamental rights and democracy. Article 19 held platforms liable for removing illegal content only after a judicial order. The STF ruled that, until new legislation is passed, companies must now actively monitor posts and take down reported illegal material (e.g., incitement to terrorism or anti-democratic acts, child pornography, racism). For crimes like calumny or defamation, platforms will be liable only if they ignore a court order. Freedom of expression experts argue that regulating social media platforms is critical, but the STF’s ruling failed to ensure protections for free access to information and against censorship, granting platforms discretionary power to define what content is illegal and subject to removal. Without legislated transparency measures, they warn, platforms could censor content based on private economic or political interests.

Source: AP News, Agencia Brasil, Supremo Tribunal federal, Oglobo, Artigo 19, Association for Progressive Communications

On 24 April, Supreme Court Justice Alexander de Moraes ordered the immediate imprisonment of former president Fernando Collor de Mello, who will be serving eight years of jail time following his conviction for corruption and money laundering connected to the Lava-Jato corruption scandal. The decision comes after de Moraes ruled to dismiss Collor de Mello's second appeal against his imprisonment following his conviction in May 2023. On 1 May, Collor de Mello was allowed to be transferred to his residency to serve house arrest after receiving authorization from the Supreme Court on humanitarian grounds (based on his advanced age and multiple health conditions). He will be forced to wear an ankle bracelet and will only be able to receive visits from his lawyers. Collor de Mello has pleaded not guilty to the charges of corruption and maintained his innocence throughout the years.

Souce: El Pais, Agência Brasil, Reuters
 

On 21 February, Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the immediate suspension of the video platform Rumble in Brazil, accusing the company of refusing to comply with court orders. The suspension responds to the platform’s lack of compliance with a court order to remove the account of Allan dos Santos, an influential right-wing blogger and fugitive based in Florida, who is under investigation for several crimes in Brazil, including spreading fake news and involvement in a criminal organization. De Moraes had also required Rumble to appoint a legal representative in Brazil within 48 hours, which the company failed to do. Justice de Moraes stated that Rumble has repeatedly neglected this requirement, thereby violating Brazilian law. He ruled that the platform would remain blocked until it complies with judicial orders, appoints a local legal representative, and pays its outstanding fines. In a public statement, Rumble denounced the suspension as censorship and announced its intention to pursue legal action against the court order.

Sources: G1, AP News, Deutsche Welle, Supreme Federal Court of Brazil

On 21 November, Brazil's Federal Police formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and over 30 supporters of attempting a coup to prevent President Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 elections, among several other crimes. The charges, based on a two-year investigation, allege Bolsonaro, along with ministers, aides, and military personnel, formed a criminal organization to keep him in power after his defeat. The police report, submitted to Brazil’s Supreme Court, now awaits a decision from Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet on whether to proceed with prosecution. Earlier that week, the Federal Police arrested four military personnel and a police officer accused of plotting to assassinate President Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Additionally, a Bolsonaro supporter detonated at least two bombs near the STF on 13 November in what police believe was a politically motivated attack targeting de Moraes. Former President Bolsonaro denies all charges.

Update 1: On 18 February, Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet charged former president Jair Bolsonaro and 33 of his allies with crimes that include attempting a coup, leading a criminal organization aimed at keeping him in power after his electoral defeat, and attempting to violently abolish the democratic rule of law. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes is now expected to hear the defence arguments and then, together with members of the First Chamber of the Supreme Court, decide whether to put the accused on trial. Legal experts claim that Bolsonaro will most likely face a trial, which is expected to be held before the end of this year. Bolsonaro denies all charges and claims the judicial system is being weaponized against him.

Update 2: On 26 March, the first panel of the Supreme Court unanimously voted to accept the charges presented by Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet against former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his closest allies, who will now have to stand trial. The trial is expected to be held this year and could potentially lead to Bolsonaro facing decades in prison.

Sources: BBC, The Guardian (1), Associated Press (1), Rio Times, Agência Brasil, BBC, The Guardian (2), Associated Press (2), The Guardian (3), Agência Publica, BBC (3), CNN

On 31 October, a Rio de Janeiro court sentenced former police officers Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz to prison for the 2018 assassination of councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, and for the attempted murder of Fernanda Chaves, Franco’s advisor, who survived the attack. The men admitted to acting on orders from two high-ranking politicians and a former police chief, and received sentences of 78 and 59 years, respectively. The court found that the attack was planned months ahead and was intended to obstruct Franco’s work on housing rights for marginalized communities. As a prominent voice against police brutality and an influential Black, gay woman born in a favela, Franco’s assassination became one of the city’s most high-profile murders, exposing collusion between organized crime and politics in Brazil. The families celebrated the verdict as a step toward justice and urged accountability for the masterminds behind the crime, whose trial dates remain pending.

Sources: Brazil de Fato, The Guardian, BBC, Pagina 12, OHCHR