Judiciary will play rising political role in Brazil

Subject

The increasing political role of the judiciary.

Significance

With the courts examining cases that could define the future of President Dilma Rousseff's government, the judiciary has recently been in the spotlight -- although increasing judicial participation in politics has become a feature of Brazilian public life in recent years. This has been driven not only by high-profile corruption investigations but also by the courts' growing willingness to make far-reaching policy decisions. Many have welcomed these developments, but critics argue that judges have often ignored the limits of their functions and taken an undue role in politics.

Impacts

• Rules for controversial social issues will increasingly depend on court rulings.
• The unpopularity of the government and Congress opens space for an 'activist' judiciary.
• However, a Rousseff removal decided by the courts would be highly divisive.