The stability and strengthening of institutions were highlighted by the closing panel of the second day of the 7th Lisbon Legal Forum, organized by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) in partnership with the Brazilian Institute of Public Law (IDP) and the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (FDUL).

The minister of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Gilmar Mendes, Doctor of Law from the University of Münster and Professor at the Brazilian Institute of Public Law (IDP), defended respect for institutions and criticized the way in which attacks are currently carried out on social networks. “How can we demand heroism from a judge, not courage, heroism, in this environment created by attacks, disturbances, and sieges? This is extremely difficult and this environment was created as if that were correct,” he said. “This must therefore be repudiated because it has started to be encouraged,” he added.

Senator Jaques Wagner also referred to the attacks that are being carried out today on institutions. “We are living in the submission of Brazilian institutions to this so-called public opinion issued through robots,” he said. For him, a “reinstitutionalization” of the country is necessary. “I consider that we have a risk, not a threat, but a real risk to Brazilian democracy. And for this risk not to happen, I would say that we have to work to retake national institutions,” he added.

The Governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha, also defended stability and respect for institutions. “To grow, Brazil needs institutions to truly respect each other, that everyone knows their space, that each of those who want Brazil to grow has responsibility for their mandates.”

The closing session this Tuesday was also attended by Professor Flavio Vasconcellos, director of the Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration at FGV. He emphasized the importance of the Lisbon Legal Forum in building dialogue and in the interaction of powers. “The change is here to stay. Traditional modes of thinking, whether legal thinking or public administration thinking, no longer seem to adapt to reality,” he pondered. Continuing and fueling the debate are, in his assessment, fundamental to understanding the current reality.

Also at the closing panel, Carlos Blanco de Morais, Doctor of Law from the University of Lisbon and Full Professor at the FDUL, emphasized that the meeting in the Portuguese capital was dedicated this year to seriously discussing current public policies, with all positions being debated in depth. “It's up to debate and respect to have diverse opinions,” he concluded.

Check out the full closing panel of the 7th Lisbon Legal Forum:

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