Sergio Moro
The lead judge in Brazil’s sprawling four-year corruption investigation known as Operation Carwash is to become justice minister with expanded powers in the government of President- elect Jair Bolsonaro.
Federal judge Sergio Moro will take the helm of a new- look ministry that will encompass the justice portfolio and public security, according to a release sent after he met with Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. “The prospect of implementing strong policies against corruption and organized crime, while respecting the constitution, the law and rights, brought me to reach this decision,” Moro wrote in the statement.
The Harvard-educated lawyer rose to fame by putting behind bars some of the most powerful politicians and business leaders since 2014. While Bolsonaro’s pick will delight his supporters, the risk is that the appointment could damage the legacy of Operation Carwash and fuel accusations Moro was politically motivated. Lionized by the right, Moro is loathed by much of the left.
The benefits for Bolsonaro are obvious — tapping a law-and-order hero is a safe bet to boost support from his conservative base and beyond, and Moro’s credibility could help his nascent administration attract more talent to top posts.
Still, for senior figures in the Workers’ Party, Moro has repeatedly singled out leftwing politicians for punishment, even though corruption allegations have been widespread across the political spectrum. It was Moro who sentenced former head of state Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to 12 years in jail for corruption and money-laundering, a ruling that effectively barred him from this year’s presidential election.
The judge’s decision to release damning plea-bargain testimony about illicit payments to previous party election campaigns just days before the first round presidential vote in October also angered many on the left.
Bolsonaro’s pledges to combat corruption played a central role in his successful election campaign, and he sought to identify himself with Moro in TV and radio ads. With corruption scandals dominating the nightly news for years, a survey in June this year by pollster Datafolha found graft was Brazilians’ chief concern, along with health care. R.T. Watson, Bruce Douglas, Bloomberg
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