Former Justice Minister Sergio Moro, who became a prominent figure while conducting Operation Car Wash — the biggest anti-corruption task force in Brazilian history — will announce he is joining the Podemos party, in what many sources say is the first move toward a presidential bid in 2022. But voters don’t seem that keen on the former judge and cabinet member.
According to pollster Paraná Pesquisas, 58 percent of voters say he shouldn’t be on the 2022 presidential ballot. His rejection rates are higher among voters who are younger, highly-educated, and live in the Northeast region (62, 63, and 64 percent of these demographics, respectively, are against him running).
Many of his allies say Mr. Moro’s eyes are on the country’s top job, and add that he has begun meeting with business leaders and economists in order to craft his economic proposals for the country.
Mr. Moro has avoided any public statements on his political ambitions, leaving himself with the alternative of running for the Senate in his home state of Paraná, where his approval ratings are higher (in the South, 44 percent of voters want him to run). However, President Bolsonaro is also more popular in the region, and his candidate would battle with Mr. Moro for the conservative vote.
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