Articles by 

Maurício Ferro

Politics

The third way lies wide open. All that’s missing is someone to take it.

The rejection of Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro reveals room for an alternative to polarization. But dissatisfaction alone does not create a third way. To fill that role, it will be necessary to combine credibility, experience, and concrete proposals. The challenge is to transform discontent into trust and present a plan capable of addressing the country’s problems.
Politics

The Power of Those Who Lose

Defeat at the polls does not end the political power of those who lose. In a divided country, the opposition can turn votes into influence through consistent proposals, responsible oversight, and a willingness to engage in dialogue. The challenge is to compete for the future without wishing for the country’s failure.
Politics

Runoff election without spectators: what each victory brings and what it demands

The runoff election presents Brazil with two platforms that have distinct strengths and risks. Considering factors such as governability, experience, relations with Congress, and institutional challenges, the choice calls for less partisan bias and more attention to what each victory could bring and demand of the country.
Politics

The Debate Nobody Wanted

The cancellation of the last presidential debate before the first round exposes a campaign that has traded persuasion for mobilization. The candidates, the courts, and the broadcaster itself all contributed to the same outcome: undecided voters were left without a platform.
Behavior

You get nothing for wanting something too much: bets and Newton's laws

The rapid expansion of online betting in Brazil has sparked a reaction as intense as its own growth. Against a backdrop of years of lax regulation, lobbying, addiction, and debt, this article uses Newton’s laws to show how resistance to limits can transform gradual regulation into a radical response.
Politics

Supreme Court Without a Chief Justice

The Supreme Court session revealed a divided Court facing a case involving its own members. Amid internal conflicts, televised trials, and gaps in the rules of procedure, the article raises a central question: How can legitimate decisions be ensured without first establishing clear, general rules that apply to everyone?
Politics

Presidentialism in a Robe

The Supreme Court’s increasing involvement in increasingly political issues has created a new balance of power in the country. Amid growing judicialization, disputes over governance, and institutional prominence, the so-called “presidentialism in robes” raises a central question: to what extent can a court exercise political power without compromising its own legitimacy?
Politics

Civil War in the Supreme Court: When the Court Stops Adjudicating and Begins Judging Itself

The internal strife within the Supreme Court exposes a crisis that goes beyond the dispute among justices. Amid breaches of confidentiality, mutual accusations, and conflicts of interest, the Court continues to function, but public confidence in its ability to adjudicate with balance and rigor is eroding.