Recent actions taken by the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) and Congress emphasize the growing divide between public servants and ordinary citizens in Brazil, reflecting an alarming trend towards a society stratified by status. The STF’s decision to uphold a provision in the Penal Code that increases penalties for crimes against the honor of public officials indicates a prioritization of their dignity over the rights of citizens. This marks a significant moment in which the State's institutions begin to reinforce a perception that some officials are above normal scrutiny due to their roles.

Justice Minister Flávio Dino defended the ruling by asserting that offenses against public officials affect not just their personal dignity but also the institutional integrity of public functions. However, this reasoning does not justify the preferential treatment given to certain governmental figures, including presidents of the STF, Senate, and Chamber, outlined in changes made to legislation in 2021. This legal and social framework risks collapsing the principles of impartiality and equality that are meant to underpin democratic governance, suggesting a deepening of systemic inequalities.

Critics assert that when public officials are treated as extensions of the institutions they represent, personal attacks against them are often reinterpreted as assaults on those institutions, effectively diluting the accountability that should be a hallmark of public service. Such developments not only threaten the foundational tenets of Brazilian democracy but could also provide a blueprint for erosions of civic rights and public discourse in other democracies.