Lula reacts to US sanctions against Moraes and calls Trump action “unacceptable”

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva repudiated on Wednesday (30) the sanctions imposed by the United States on Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Court (STF).

In an official statement, Lula classified as “unacceptable” the attempt to interference with President Donald Trump in the Brazilian judiciary and expressed solidarity with the magistrate.

The US government’s decision was based on the so -called Magnitsky Law, used to apply punishments against foreign authorities accused of violating human rights.

The decree cites Moraes for alleged persecution of US citizens and questions his action in cases involving social networks and Jair Bolsonaro’s trial for attempted coup.

The White House claimed that these actions would endanger the US national security.

According to Lula, the US initiative reflects political interests and represents a threat to the autonomy of Brazil.

He defended the role of the judiciary in the protection of democracy and said that weakening institutions for external pressures is inadmissible.

“Brazilian justice is independent and will not be the target of international bargains,” said the president.

In addition to sanctions against Moraes, the Trump government also announced a 50% rate on several Brazilian products.

Lula criticized the adoption of commercial barriers for political reasons and stated that Brazil will not accept impositions that affect its economy and constitutional principles.

The Planalto Palace recalled that the country maintains commercial deficit with the US and reinforced the willingness for dialogue, provided that the legal mechanisms of national defense.

The Brazilian government said it has started studies on the impacts of Washington measures and prepares a set of actions to protect affected economic sectors.

Read the full note released by the Planalto Palace:

Brazil is a sovereign and democratic country

Brazil is a sovereign and democratic country that respects human rights and independence between powers. A country that defends multilateralism and harmonious coexistence between nations, which has guaranteed the strength of our economy and the autonomy of our foreign policy.

The interference of the US government in Brazilian justice is unacceptable.

The Brazilian government sympathizes with Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Court, the target of sanctions motivated by the action of Brazilian politicians who betray our homeland and our people in defense of their own interests.

One of the foundations of democracy and respect for human rights in Brazil is the independence of the judiciary and any attempt to weaken it constitutes threat to the democratic regime itself. Justice is not negotiated.

In Brazil, the law is for all citizens and all companies. Any activity that affects the life of the Brazilian population and democracy is subject to norms. It is no different for digital platforms.

Brazilian society rejects content of hatred, racism, child pornography, blows, fraud, discourses against human rights and democracy.

The Brazilian government considers unjustifiable the use of political arguments to validate the commercial measures announced by the US government against Brazilian exports. Brazil has accumulated in recent decades a significant commercial deficit in goods and services with the United States. The political motivation of the measures against Brazil attentive against national sovereignty and the very historical relationship between the two countries.

Brazil is still willing to negotiate commercial aspects of the relationship with the United States, but will not give up the country’s defense instruments provided for in its legislation. Our economy is increasingly integrated with major international markets and partners.

We have already begun the evaluation of the impacts of the measures and the elaboration of actions to support and protect Brazilian workers, companies and families.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

President of the Republic