During the peak of institutional tensions in 2021, former President Jair Bolsonaro frequently stated that he did not "desire or provoke" a constitutional rupture, but he often coupled this with the assertion that . His statements were largely interpreted by political analysts and critics as a rhetorical strategy to exert pressure on the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). The Limits of Harmony
: He frequently stated his desire for "harmony and independence" between the Powers, implying that the Judiciary was encroaching upon the Executive’s authority. Strategic Reticence and the "Four Lines" During the peak of institutional tensions in 2021,
The phrase "playing within the four lines" became a hallmark of his rhetoric. It allowed him to project a commitment to democratic norms while simultaneously suggesting that a "counter-stroke" might be necessary if he felt those norms were being violated by others. Strategic Reticence and the "Four Lines" The phrase
: He argued that his administration was being provoked by "arbitrary" judicial decisions, such as the desmonetization of pro-government channels and investigations into fake news. Bolsonaro’s discourse focused on the idea that while
Bolsonaro’s discourse focused on the idea that while he intended to play within the "four lines" of the Constitution, he felt the other Powers—specifically the Judiciary—were operating outside of them.