During a lecture at the Centro Universitário de Brasília (CEUB), Edson Fachin, the president of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF), urged the court to practice self-restraint and respect the boundary between political and judicial realms. He stated that self-restraint should not be viewed as weakness, but rather as a demonstration of strength. Fachin highlighted the role of the STF in upholding the Constitution while emphasizing the need for clarity in decision-making to maintain public trust. His remarks come at a critical time, as the court's reputation has been severely affected by investigations involving its ministers.

The STF is currently facing an unprecedented image crisis due to revelations of business dealings involving its ministers and the former banker Daniel Vorcaro, who is now imprisoned and under investigation led by the court itself. Fachin stressed the necessity for the court to justify its decisions with clarity and rationale, indicating that without public trust, legitimacy and authority would be compromised. His comments underline a call for the judicial body to evaluate its actions against the expectations of society in a polarized political environment.

Fachin's statements resonate with the public's growing concerns about the integrity of the judicial system in Brazil, especially as the STF navigates its critical responsibilities amidst external pressures. His insistence on the need for clear, sensitive, and sober justifications for judicial choices reflects deeper societal apprehensions regarding transparency and accountability within the judiciary. As the STF grapples with its image and the implications of its actions, Fachin's call for self-restraint might represent an attempt to restore faith in the institution's role as a guardian of democracy in Brazil.