Brazil justice minister quits over Jair Bolsonaro’s ‘political interference’
- President sacked federal police chief, prompting Sergio Moro’s resignation
- Minister had made his name as a judge by leading ‘Car Wash’ probe that saw former leftist leader Lula da Silva jailed for accepting a bribe
Sergio Moro, Brazil’s justice and security minister, resigned on Friday after clashing with President Jair Bolsonaro over the sacking of the federal police chief.
Moro, a former anti-corruption judge, hit out at “political interference” with the federal police, saying he could not do his job without “autonomy” for the force.
The news sparked jitters in the markets with Sao Paulo’s stock exchange, the largest in Latin America, plunging more than eight per cent and the real dropping to a record low of 5.7 against the US dollar.
“I’m going to start packing up my things and send my resignation letter,” said Moro, 47, during a long speech in the capital Brasilia in which he accused the far-right Bolsonaro of “breaking the promise of a carte blanche”.
Bolsonaro hit back at Moro, accusing him of being motivated by “ego” and making “unfounded accusations”.
