The Palácio do Planalto was the scene, on the morning of this Wednesday (8), of a political event about the two years of the invasion and destruction of the buildings in Praça dos Três Poderes, in an attempted coup d’état to depose the current government of the President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who defeated former President Jair Bolsonaro at the polls in 2022. Accompanied by authorities, including magistrates from higher courts, parliamentarians and ministers, the event featured speeches by representatives of the Powers present, who reaffirmed the need for the episode of attack on democracy to ensure the accountability of its mentors and executors.
Brasília (DF), 01/08/2025 – Authorities participate in a political event that commemorates the attacks of January 8, 2023- Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil
“We cannot be tolerant of the intolerant. We cannot honor fascism, political hatred. We need to learn from history. Those who want to break with democracy cannot have leniency on our part”, stated federal deputy Maria do Rosário ( PT-RS), second secretary of the Chamber of Deputies. She represented the president of the House, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), who did not attend the event. At some moments during the ceremony, those present shouted in chorus the phrase “no amnesty”, alluding to the ongoing legal proceedings and investigation against those involved in the coup acts.
For the Federal Senate, vice-president Veneziano Vital do Rêgo (MDB-PB) was the representative in place of president Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG). For him, the act does not mean partisanship, but the need to preserve the memory of an attack on democracy. In the presence of the commanders of the Armed Forces (Army, Air Force and Navy), Veneziano spoke about highlighting those authorities who remained faithful to democracy, separating them from those who tried to break constitutional rules.
“Among members of the Forces there were those who were not prepared to submit themselves to the infamy of those who tried and plotted against the lives, such as that of President Lula, Vice-President Alckmin, Minister Alexandre de Moraes. It is necessary that we do justice because We cannot treat those who are unequal equally,” he said.
President Lula made a point, before starting his speech, of highlighting the presence of military commanders. “I want to thank José Múcio [ministro da Defesa]who brought the three commanders of the Armed Forces, to show this country that it is possible for us to build the Armed Forces with the purpose of defending national sovereignty”, he said.
The vice-president of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), minister Edson Fachin, spoke in place of minister Luís Roberto Barroso, who is traveling. “Remembering this date, with the gravity that the episode deserves, constitutes an effort to turn the page, but without tearing it out of history. Institutional maturity demands accountability for deviations of this nature. At the same time, however, we are here to reiterate our democratic values, our belief in pluralism and the feeling of fraternity. There is a place for everyone who wants to participate under the values of the Constitution”, said Fachin, reading a speech by Minister Barroso himself.
Social media
The minister continued the STF president’s speech, emphasizing the initiatives to deregulate the profusion of fake news on social media. It was an indirect mention of the announcement by the company Meta, which controls Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook, which will loosen rules about hateful content on platforms.
“We must have no illusions. In Brazil and around the world, the false narrative is being inflated that confronting extremism and putschism, within the rule of law, would constitute authoritarianism. It is the disguise of those who have not given up on anti-democratic adventures, in violation of rules of the game and suppression of human rights. Lies continue to be used as a naturalized political instrument”.
In his speech, Lula said that the democracy won that, now, it is necessary that the people who provoked the attempted breakdown of democracy and serious crimes are prosecuted and punished. “Those responsible for January 8th are being investigated and punished. No one has been or will be arrested unjustly. Everyone will pay for the crimes they committed, including those who planned the murders of the president, the vice-president of the Republic and the president of the Superior Electoral Court” , he stated.
Brasília (DF), 01/08/2025 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participates in events in reference to the undemocratic episodes that occurred on January 8, 2023 – Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil
According to the Presidency of the Republic, three governors attended the event: Fátima Bezerra (Rio Grande do Norte), Jerônimo Rodrigues (Bahia) and Elmano de Freitas (Ceará). The vice-governor of Pernambuco, Priscila Krause, was also present. Among government ministers, attendance was large, with 34 top-ranking officials present. Presidents of higher courts, such as the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) and the Superior Military Court (STM), were also present at the event.
