President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva broke his silence on Thursday (3) about the crisis at Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF). In a video recorded at the Planalto presidential palace and released by the government's communications office, Lula said the country "cannot be held hostage to selective leaks" and called for deep reforms of the political system and the judiciary. According to G1, it was the first time the president commented on the crisis at the court.
Lula called the Banco Master scandal "the biggest robbery in Brazil's history" and noted that former banker Daniel Vorcaro was arrested and his bank shut down during his government.
"Millions of people in many states and municipalities were robbed. The banker who led the scheme has ties to many powerful people. (...) There is suspicion that politicians and public officials are involved. Our democracy cannot be held hostage to selective leaks," the president said in the video.
He then pointed to a way out. "It is clear that our political system and judiciary need deep reforms. It is essential that everyone be investigated, with no one shielded, no matter who it hurts. The Brazilian people have the right to know the truth," he said, according to InfoMoney.
Pressure on Fachin and the Prosecutor General
The statement came amid revelations about the relationship between Vorcaro and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and about the meeting between the then Master owner and Justice André Mendonça in March 2025. Lula said he expects STF President Edson Fachin and Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet to lead the process. "As President of the Republic, I believe that only by acting with firmness and transparency will we ensure that institutions are respected by Brazilian society," he said.
The president followed the line of a video by Workers Party (PT) chairman Edinho Silva, who said "no one is above the law" and proposed a code of ethics for the judiciary and the public prosecutor's office. On Tuesday (1st), Lula met with Justice Gilmar Mendes at the Planalto to discuss the crisis and also spoke with Fachin. According to Valdo Cruz's blog at G1, Gilmar told the president that the government acted too late to stop the dispute between Mendonça's office and Federal Police director-general Andrei Rodrigues from escalating.
What comes next
Minutes before the video was released, Moraes asked Fachin to open an investigation into Mendonça. In the petition, he cited strong indications of administrative improbity, abuse of authority, crimes of responsibility and favoring political groups in his handling of the Master and INSS cases. Fachin then ordered Moraes, Mendonça, Gonet and Rodrigues to respond within five business days on the events behind the court crisis. The court president wants explanations on the use of institutional credentials, the disclosure of information under judicial seal and the external oversight of police activity.