Brazil’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Judge Sergio Moro was biased when he convicted former left-wing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for corruption in 2017. The verdict is another victory for Lula, who wants to make a political comeback.
The ruling, backed by three of the five justices of the Brazilian Supreme Court, came two weeks after one of the high judges put an end to the former president’s conviction. This paved the way for Lula to possibly compete in next year’s elections against right-wing populist president Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil experienced an economic boom between 2003 and 2010 under Lula (75). Although the 26 years in prison for bribery stained his image, he is still considered one of the most popular politicians in the country.
The case against Lula arose out of Operation Lava Jato (car wash), an in-depth anti-corruption investigation that has cast a bad light on many in the upper echelons of Brazilian politics and business.
Moro werd minister onder Bolsonaro
Monday’s ruling is a hard blow to Judge Moro, who was instrumental in the Lava Jato trials. Lula and his supporters accused Moro of participating in a conspiracy to prevent Lula from running in the 2018 election, for which he was a longtime favorite.
Ultimately, in 2018, the far-right Bolsonaro was elected, who subsequently appointed Moro as Justice Minister. Some high judges who ruled that Moro was biased also cited that fact in their verdict on Monday.
Judge Sergio Moro became Minister of Justice in Bolsonaro’s government in 2019. He resigned a year later, in his own words because of “interference” by Bolsonaro with his department. (Photo: ANP)
Judge Sergio Moro became Minister of Justice in Bolsonaro’s government in 2019. He resigned a year later, in his own words because of “interference” by Bolsonaro with his department. (Photo: ANP) Photo: ANP
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