The microphone is raised, ex-minister Sergio Moro (Podemos) walks around the stage without much confidence. A crowded audience listens to their jokes and political commentary. He presents his view of the country’s history in recent years in a tone that increasingly resembles that of a professional politician.

During a two-hour presentation of the book Against the Corruption System at the Renaissance Hotel in São Paulo, the former judge and current president, who had already denied his involvement in politics, focused his speech on defending his coming period. Lava Yato, with indirect suggestions to former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, with direct quotes from President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), his former boss and current enemy.

Moreau joined Podemos last month and, as a prospective runner-up, his main flag is the fight against corruption.

Presentation of a book with a pre-election plan

“When he comes in, let’s shout“ President! “”, – said several people when the chairs were full. Some called themselves “Moro activists.”

The author’s recording at about 7:10 pm was lively. According to the press service, 400 tickets have been sold, with few vacancies. There are two packages available. One guaranteed entry, autographed book and R $ 95 notebook. Another, regular entrance, for 80 reais. The recommended price for one book in bookstores is R $ 49.90.

This is the third event of the so-called “launch tour” of the book after Curitiba and Recife. The latter will be in Rio de Janeiro next Thursday (9).

Moreau denied it was a campaign event. “This is not another project in which I took part,” he said at the opening. But his position was that of a candidate.

Until the middle of this year, the former judge refused to participate in politics several times. As he solidifies as a preliminary candidate, his faltering demeanor gradually solidifies and he feels at ease with a receptive audience.

As in other exhibitions, Moreau did not answer questions from the press and the public.

Anti-corruption motto. as usual, he dominated the lines. This is the central theme of the former magistrate, who even proposed the creation of a national anti-corruption court if elected, which the lawyers UOL listens to consider illegal.

When the topic changed, he said that he had returned from the United States, where he worked in the private sector, because he had been drafted. “It looks like the Brazilians are going to a funeral in 2022, all that remains is to choose the color of the coffin. And people said: come back, come back, ”he said.

“As a minister, I have never considered myself a politician, because this is a technical position. There is a political game, but it is not an addiction. I am not going to repeat that I am not a politician. I came back mostly for you. “

Against Lula and Bolsonaro

Moreau has always defended his anti-corruption legacy and, when he could, nudged Lula and Bolsonara, the top two candidates in the 2022 Planalto competition.

“People keep complaining about the president’s attacks on the judiciary – with reason – and the president’s attacks on the press – with good reason – but they don’t remember that it was the same during PT, but the goals were different,” he said, mocking coercive behavior towards Lula, claiming a risk to the police.

“In fact, both [Lula e Bolsonaro] bad, both wrong, ”he said.

Moreau was minister from January 2019 to April 2020 when he stepped down, accusing Bolsonaro of interfering with the PF (Federal Police) while investigating burglary schemes involving Senator Flavio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), his eldest son.

“If my son does something wrong, I will scold him,” he said. “If you are against the government, you are out of the game or you are a communist agent.”

Moreau was also critical of other areas of the current government. “I looked at Brazil with great concern. In this pandemic, everyone has lost someone they loved and we also saw a crisis in the economic situation. High prices, low wages and rising interest rates, ”he said.

Same day as the triplex prescription

In the book, Moreau also tells the behind-the-scenes stories and stories of Lava Yato and ministries, which he called not “versions” but “facts.”
“Is this your version of the facts? No, these are facts. There is a story that happened. These are facts, ”the former minister said.

The event takes place on the same day that the FPM (Federal Ministry of State) acknowledged the statute of limitations in the case against Lula in the Guaruja Triplex (JV) case, in which the former president was convicted by Moro.

The statute of limitations was granted by the MPF on the grounds that the STF (Federal Supreme Court) had already overturned Lula’s conviction in April this year, declaring Moreau a suspect.

When asked, he regretted the decision. “When you see the courts overturning convictions for corruption … Something is wrong with the system that allows it. And Lava Jato remains proof that the system can work, ”he defended.

The event ended at 21.20. With a duration of just over two hours, several people had already left the hall during the last replies of the former minister.