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Brazil’s president said on Wednesday that he ended the Lava Jato operation because there was no longer corruption in the government to investigate.
“It is a pride, it is a satisfaction that I have, to tell this wonderful press that I do not want to end Lava Jato. I finished Lava Jato because there is no more corruption in the Government. I know that this is not a virtue, it is an obligation, “said Jair Bolsonaro, at a ceremony on measures for civil aviation, held at the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia.
“We run an open-hearted government. When I refer someone to any place, I know they are a good person, given the amount of criticism they receive in much of the ‘media’,” added the head of state. whose management has been marked by attacks on the press.
Jair Bolsonaro’s statements came after he was criticized for making decisions that allegedly go against defenders of Lava Jato, such as the appointment to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) of Kassio Nunes, a judge who is supposed to support the magistrates that usually impose defeats on whoever is the largest anti-corruption operation in Brazil.
During the electoral campaign, in 2018, Bolsonaro praised Lava Jato several times and appointed Sergio Moro, internationally recognized for acting as a judge in the operation, as Minister of Justice.
However, Moro resigned from the executive last April, after accusing Bolsonaro of trying to interfere with the autonomy of the Federal Police, a situation that is now being investigated by the STF itself.
Bolsonaro’s statements come at a time when the possible end of the Lava Jato working groups is being debated, through a unification project to combat corruption in the country, which promises to be neutral and free of ideologies.
Lava Jato’s conduct has been questioned on several occasions, especially since June last year, in a scandal known as “Vaza Jato”.
On the occasion, The Intercept Brasil portal and other media began to publish reports based on information obtained from an unidentified source, according to which former Justice Minister Sergio Moro advised prosecutors, lines of investigation indicated. and decisions made when at that time he was the magistrate in charge of analyzing the files in the first instance.
Launched in 2014, the Lava Jato operation brought to the public a huge corruption scheme by public companies, such as Petrobras, which involves dozens of senior political and economic officials. Many of them were arrested and convicted, such as former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is currently on parole.
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