MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Controversy in Brazil as anti graft Judge Moro accepts post as Justice minister
Moro oversaw the “Operation Car Wash” probe that sent former president Lula da Silva to prison, blocking him from running against Bolsonaro. 
A telegenic 46-year-old who has previously denied any political ambitions, Moro flew to Bolsonaro's beachside Rio de Janeiro home on Thursday 
“His anti-corruption and anti-organized crime agenda, as well as his respect for the laws and the constitution, will be our guide,” president elect Bolsonaro tweeted. 
“Moro will be Bolsonaro's minister after his decisive role in blocking Lula from running,” tweeted PT President Gleisi Hoffmann. “Fraud of the century!” Brazilian far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has convinced crusading anti-graft Judge Sergio Moro to become his justice minister, the two said on Thursday, delighting supporters and enraging critics “by hiring the jurist who jailed Bolsonaro's chief political rival”.
Moro oversaw the “Operation Car Wash” probe that sent former president Lula da Silva to prison, blocking him from running against Bolsonaro.
A telegenic 46-year-old who has previously denied any political ambitions, Moro flew to Bolsonaro's beachside Rio de Janeiro home on Thursday, where the two met before announcing the decision.
“His anti-corruption and anti-organized crime agenda, as well as his respect for the laws and the constitution, will be our guide,” Bolsonaro tweeted.
The president-elect scored a clear political victory with the appointment of Moro, who gained cult following in Brazil after he locked up a string of politicians and businessmen.
But his appointment also gives ammunition to Bolsonaro's opponents, who have long argued that the Car Wash probe was a politicized purge aimed at sidelining Lula and his leftist Workers Party (PT).
“Moro will be Bolsonaro's minister after his decisive role in his election, by blocking Lula from running,” tweeted PT President Gleisi Hoffmann. “Fraud of the century!”
Moro's decision to work with Bolsonaro brings risks. The president-elect has a history of making racist, misogynist and homophobic comments, as well as remarks dismissive of democratic institutions, although he has pledged repeatedly in recent days to respect the constitution.
“The opportunity to implement a strong anti-corruption and anti-organized crime agenda, with respect for the constitution, the law and rights, led me to take this decision,” Moro said in a statement. He added that he would hand over the reins of the Car Wash investigation to other judges.
As justice minister, Moro will have oversight of the federal police and federal public security. It’s therefore a crucial appointment for Bolsonaro, who has pledged to aggressively combat corruption and violent crime.
In a TV interview, Bolsonaro said Moro would have broad license to pick his own staff. Although public security is not one of Moro's specialties, his reliance on good advisers will allow him to make the right decisions, Bolsonaro added.
In 2016, Moro said he would never enter politics, keeping the focus on his graft-fighting crusade in the courts. But the rise of Bolsonaro, a seven-term congressman who has cast himself as a political maverick untainted by graft allegations, appears to have changed the judge's mind.
Some on Bolsonaro's team would even like Moro to run for the presidency in 2022, according to a report by a Folha de S. Paulo columnist on the newspaper's website on Thursday.
Moro, who was floated as a possible presidential candidate in the run-up to this year's election, has seen his profile rise quickly as his name became synonymous with probes targeting a corrupt political establishment.
Early last year, Moro enjoyed the support of nearly two-thirds of Brazilians in opinion polls. That figure dropped sharply after he sentenced Lula, who is still remembered fondly for reducing inequality during his 2003-11 presidency.
Bolsonaro is expected to announce a full cabinet this month, ahead of his Jan. 1 inauguration.
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Nov 06th, 2018 - 06:13 pm +1FT : ”.. economy student’s 1st lesson in macroeconomics : for an economy in recession, fiscal stimulus package (more public spending, lower taxes) is what the doctor ordered”…sounds nice, but the dosage depends on the seriousness of the illness. Again, that's the Keynesian approach. I prefer the monetarist approach (Friedman - tighter control of money offer ‘n inflation, spend only what you have), but a mixture of the two is sometimes a good idea. Fiscal austerity's usually harmful when it cuts (productive) investmt, but when loans are used to pay for govt expenses (unproductive), not such a good idea. Anyway no two cases are the same.
Minimum wage : 2018 - $ 954 ; current income tax: up to $ 1,903 - exempt; to $ 2,826 - 7,5%; to $ 3,751-15%; to $ 4,664 - 22,5%. Guedes' proposal : below $ 5,000, exempt.
Today, most of the deficit is caused by 1) social security deficit (2016 = $ 226 billion; 2017 = $ 268 bill; 2018 projected, $ 292 bill); 2) yrly interest on current federal debt , +/- $ 280 bill. If Guedes manages to sell off most State-owned companies (as I’ve alrdy mentioned), besides not needing to finance their losses, proceeds will go to reducing debt, ‘n interest.
Moro has been a Federal judge for 22 years ; his technical knowledge/expertise is not in question ; Lavajato trials fell on his lap ; “he also hated the PT” : what proof do you have that he publicly expressed/insinuated his hate for them, or any other party ? but, while that is your opinion, and I’m quite sure he does not appreciate what they did, or represent, there’s absolutely no evidence that he judged his cases based on political likes/dislikes…but THAT'S EXACTLY what the PT wants everyone to “believe”, from the moment Lula became a suspect, end 2014.
Under Moro, as Justice Minister, the Federal Police ‘n all anti-corruption agencies will be unified, funds will be guaranteed, and the L J will be strengthened. Dozens weren’t re-elected, but not indicted (yet). By end 2019 ? yes.
Moro's reward for taking Bolsonaro's rival out of the election? Or just a clever way of ensuring the crusading judge will not go after B's own ministers?
Nov 02nd, 2018 - 06:30 pm 0I suppose that having served it's purpose, the Lava Jato investigation will now be allowed the die, and those convicted - except of course for Lula - quietly released from prison.
DT (Cont of 'Bolsonaro not best...')
Nov 02nd, 2018 - 10:26 pm 0“Or cut taxes while increase spending, like Trump”: Yes. Worked w/ Reagan. Since you mentioned Trump, I'll mention BO - Jan 2009, US debt, US$ 10.6 trillion; Jan 2017, US$ 19.9…nearly double.
But this is abt Brazil – taxes have never been cut other than sporadically/temporarily, on a few selected items to try to stimulate respective sectors - 'n didn’t work too well. “
”like to know why you don't criticize his economic policy, as you do Dilma's” …Because,1) the discussion's abt Brazil, 2) size of US economy is 10 x Brazil’s, 3) structure of US's economy is far more solid/organized (good infrastructure, contributes to progress), 4) no State-owned cos draining tax resources, 5) less corruption.
Take a look at who some of these (350) economists are…probably many leftists, like Akerlof (Berkely). Williamsons “Washington Consensus” looks much like B’s proposals.
Haddad’s a liar. Don’t doubt for 1 second he wouldn’t find some excuse to release Lula…perhaps “pressure from the UNHRC“? ”Ah, I had no choice”... That’s how the PT works. You may not think so, but you really don’t know.
Just fyi, Haddad’s commie VP (Manoela) is a declared atheist, yet to look good, went to a few church services. Haddad’s proposals for the economy were much the same as Dilma’s…he even had the nerve to change his proposals 3 X (even copying some of B’s) as he realized he was losing ground. Just before the 2nd round, in desperation, he announced he’d raise minimum wages 20% as of 1st Jan…5,5 times 2018s projected inflation of 3,6%. Absolutely nuts, economically irresponsible - “that” yes, would screw the economy. I think I should be thankful.
Of course I don’t condone the mail bomber’s or the Synagogue shooter’s actions, but they appear to be ‘lone wolves’. Just to get the record straight, in BRAZIL, it’s the PT who started spreading fake news 10 yrs ago...not the conservatives.
Btw, B's not appointing corrupt people ; L J will be strengthened...
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