Journalists are barred from forum in London with STF ministers

Media professionals were prevented, this Thursday (April 25, 2024), from entering the Brasil de Ideias Legal Forum, held in London (United Kingdom). The program features panels by 3 ministers from the STF (Supreme Federal Court): Alexandre de Moraes, Gilmar Mendes and Dias Toffoli. Also, from ministers of the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) government and members of the Legislature.

Among the banned media outlets is Folha de S.Paulo. According to the publication, journalists were prevented from staying on the same floor where the event took place, at the luxury hotel The Peninsula (cheapest daily rate of 1,300 pounds, or approximately R$8,300). Organizer of the event, Grupo Voto said that “the forum is a private event”.

Gilmar Mendes declared to Sheetat the entrance to the event, who didn’t know about the ban. “We were not told this”, he said, adding that he would find out about the situation.

The journalists also asked Alexandre de Moraes if he would speak to the press at the end of the day. According to Sheethe used a tone between ironic and humorous to respond: “Not the pau”.

The event started on Wednesday (April 24, 2024). The panels will be held from this Thursday (April 25th) until Friday (April 26th). According to the newspaper, around 50 people participated in the meeting, which is not broadcast openly on video. Here is the forum schedule (PDF – 3MB).

In addition to the 3 STF ministers, several Brazilian authorities participate. For example, Paulo Gonet (attorney general of the Republic), Andrei Rodrigues (director general of the Federal Police) and senator Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP), pre-candidate for president of the Senate. Also, 5 ministers from the STJ (Superior Court of Justice), including Luis Felipe Salomão, recently elected vice-president of the STJ.

The meeting is sponsored by the technology company FS Security, owned by Alberto Leite, and is organized by Grupo Voto, owned by businesswoman Karim Miskulin.

In 2022, Karim organized a lunch between then-president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and businesspeople in São Paulo. Leite is a businessman close to the former chief executive.

He is also an admirer of billionaire Elon Musk, who has clashed with the STF and, in particular, with Moraes. From April 6th to 13th, Elon Musk referred to Alexandre de Moraes in 32 publications on the social network X (formerly Twitter). The Court minister reacted and included the billionaire in one of the investigations he conducts at the Supreme Court.

Leite owns a house in the luxury condominium Fazenda Boa Vista, 100 km from São Paulo, in the municipality of Porto Feliz. It was at BV, as residents refer to the condominium, that Elon Musk was received by Bolsonaro in May 2022.