STF Hits Record Low in Public Trust, Datafolha Finds

Overview

• The latest Datafolha survey found 48% of voters say they do not trust the Supreme Federal Court, the highest distrust level in the poll series that began in 2012.
• The poll, conducted Sept. 15–17 with 2,002 respondents across 125 municipalities and a ±2 percentage point margin of error, shows only 14% trust the Court a lot and 35% trust it a little.
• The Court’s reputation decline follows heated plenary sessions over investigations into Banco Master and businessman Daniel Vorcaro, and on Sept. 15 a request for a 'vista' by Minister Flávio Dino paused debate on opening an inquiry into Alexandre de Moraes for up to 90 days.
• Datafolha responses indicate the crisis could influence votes, with significant shares of supporters of leading candidates saying the case will affect their choice, and the poll was registered with the electoral court and commissioned by TV Globo and Folha de S.Paulo.
• The episode highlights growing public skepticism of the judiciary during an election period and raises the risk that delayed internal rulings and public disputes among ministers will further erode the Court’s institutional standing.