Public announcement: Brazilian Democracy Endures

The conclusion of the trial of the central core of the coup plot on November 25, 2025, reaffirms the strength of Brazil’s institutions and society, which faced and overcame a serious threat to democratic order, moving forward toward a strong democracy.

The significance of this moment does not lie in individual punishments: we are witnessing a historic milestone. For the first time, high-ranking authorities—including senior military officials and a former president—have been tried for crimes against democracy. This is unprecedented in a country whose history is marked by coups, restrictions on freedom, and periods of dictatorship. Holding the central core of the coup attempt accountable, fully respecting the rules of due process, demonstrates the vigor of a young yet resilient democratic regime, upheld not only by institutions but by society as a whole, committed to the Federal Constitution and the active defense of the Democratic Rule of Law.

With this historic decision, Brazil establishes itself as an outlier on the international stage and as an example of how democracies endure. It demonstrates in practice that institutions and civil society must act decisively against processes of autocratization. From the outset, civil society organizations monitored and participated in investigative initiatives, including within the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI) in Congress, framed the public debate around the memory of events, advocated for strengthening the democratic system, and took a firm stand against attempts to grant amnesty for the crimes committed. The result of this process is a solid and legitimate democratic response. In a context of the violent rise of authoritarianism, we celebrate with conviction the vitality of Brazilian democracy.

However, essential steps remain. The coup plot, which culminated in the January 8, 2023 insurrection, exposed deep wounds in the social and institutional fabric that must be addressed by the Brazilian State. Decisive actions are still pending to depoliticize and democratize security forces, restructure the balance between branches of government, restore trust in the electoral system, ensure full accountability of financiers and other actors involved, and, no less importantly, preserve the memory of crimes against democracy so that these tragic episodes remain confined, from now on, to history books.

For these measures to advance, it is necessary to renew a democratic pact in which institutions and society assume an absolute, effective, and permanent commitment to consolidating the Democratic Rule of Law, incorporating the knowledge and lessons produced throughout our history. Let today’s date mark the announcement of this new beginning. We will continue, vigilant and active, building a truly democratic tomorrow.