An anti-fraud judge who took over a group of Brazilian nominees has made a presidential election

Sérgio Moro is being touted by his supporters as Superman for his role in exposing the corruption in Brazil. But a judge who became a politician is facing the daunting task of persuading voters to support his bid for the presidency.

He is currently third in a run-off election next October, following in the footsteps of former left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro, the current president. However Moro, 49, sees an opportunity to look at a growing area of ​​voters who do not want to vote for Bolsonaro or Lula.

“The Brazilian people do not want to elect a new president, but on the other hand [many] “He does not want to bring in former president Lula because he knows he is a role model for the government,” he told the Financial Times from his southern São Paulo headquarters.

At the request of the president, in accordance with the financial plans, is the third time the work of the Moro. Initially, a judge from the southern city of Curitiba became as popular as the face of people who had lived for so long. Lava Jato (Car Wash) search which barred Brazilian powerful figures from anti-corruption investigations.

Since 2014, prosecutors have uncovered a major source of revenue for more than 1,000 political and business ventures and $ 5 billion in illegal financing. More than 280 people were convicted of the crime, including Lula.

Moro joined Bolsonaro as a law minister in 2019, but left 16 months later amid controversy over the President’s intervention in the state.

Now, following a stint in the US as a consultant, Moro is seeking to replace the former army captain as leader in Brazil. While no one wants to announce, the polls show Moro at number three – and his motivation is growing.

According to a Ipec poll, more than 30 percent of Brazilians do not want to vote for Bolsonaro or Lula, who returned to the race this year. The Supreme Court reversed its decision on swallowing due to policy errors.

Moro benefits from a high profile but will face difficulties in uniting voters against the incumbents given that there will be many more. Corruption has also undermined the electoral system, with its economic and social problems.

The former judge also has a high risk of refusing – currently more than 50 percent – among voters. For many of the remaining voters, Lula’s trial was a political witch hunt, a criticism that began in 2019 when the left-out messages showed Moro training opponents in the case. Following the ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that her case against Lula in 2017 was biased.

Moro denies that the incident has undermined his credibility: “Brazilians know what happened to Lava Jato’s investigation and the findings. It was a serious criminal case. Brazil was prone to corruption and Lava Jato changed this.

“The facts are indisputable. It is a failure, ”said Moro, quoting John Adams, the second president of the United States.

If elected, Moro said he would resume anti-corruption activities while promoting an economic plan that would address Brazil’s economic woes.

“I believe in business. I believe that economic development is very much dependent on what corporations are doing, “he said, promising systemic reforms such as the simplicity of taxes that Bolsonaro had promised.

“[But] in a country like Brazil, you also need to have strong programs for health, education, social security. You need strong education and to reduce poverty as it grows. ”

This is a central message that should also affect Brazilian businesses, who are tired of the Bolsonaro management crisis but are reluctant to return to the residual control under Lula.

Moro, however, is facing the daunting task of spreading his message to many people, especially in the poorer areas such as the northeast. Although regarded as talented and professional, the former prime minister has no influence on Lula or Bolsonaro’s popular influence. He was no longer responsible for the election.

If he wins the leadership, Moro could face challenges to achieve his goals. He has little experience in navigating and taking the necessary steps to legislate and many Congressmen hate him for being accused by lawmakers of Lava Jato.

“We need to have a program, strong, and you need to have a political alliance and we are working,” Moro said. “There are a lot of good people in Congress. And I believe they often respond well to the right motivations.”

He added that he was prepared to negotiate with anyone, including Centrão, an amorphous group of parties that retaliate against the president in exchange for government responsibilities and sections of the state budget. Bolsonaro is currently undergoing treatment for bloc.

“You can talk to everyone, but you must have principles, values ​​and boundaries. Think back to the 1990s, it was possible to make Plano Real [economic stabilisation programme] because you had a political alliance between the three parties. We need to do the same. ”

Matias Spektor, a professor at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation, said Bolsonaro should “look to the right from Moro” who could attract voters who support the President in the 2018 elections.

“Moro has a lot of opponents, but his campaign has just started. He has made all the noise one can expect. He could be a powerful force for Bolsonaro to consider.”

Additional reports of Carolina Ingizza