Why has support for Operation Car Wash reached an all-time low?

With 52 phases, 2,476 criminal proceedings, 175 plea bargain agreements, 204 convictions, BRL 38.1 billion in restitution requests and a Netflix series, Operation Car Wash is the biggest corruption investigation in the history of Brazil, Latin America, and quite possibly the world.

In the four years since its inception, Operation Car Wash has gathered significant support from the Brazilian public, symbolized by right-wing groups organizing huge street protests in defense of the investigations and head Car Wash judge Sérgio Moro. However, a series of opinion polls have shown that this overwhelming approval is dwindling. Public support for Operation Car Wash is the lowest it has ever been, with growing suspicions that Judge Moro’s task force is not playing fair.

Since January 2016, market research firm Ipsos has been carrying out semi-regular surveys which attempt to map the Brazilian population’s feelings towards Operation Car Wash. In its most recent poll, it showed that the percentage of the public who believe the investigations should continue at all costs has fallen to 86 percent – the lowest it has ever been. Likewise, the percentages of people who regard Operation Car Wash as more important than political or economic stability have also dropped to new lows. 

While the support for Operation Car Wash continues to be very high – roughly 5 out of 6...