Moro says Bolsonaro gov’t will not discriminate in any way

Confirmed as future justice minister by President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro, Federal Judge Sergio Moro said the new government will not discriminate in any way. He also vowed that the new government will be strict on the punishment for hate crimes.

“I’d never join a government if there were the slightest suspicion there could be any policy in this connection,” the trial judge said during an interview on TV Globo on Sunday (Nov. 11). “The government must have a strict stance against crimes in general, and also hate crimes.”

Moro also said he never heard any statement showing discrimination made by Bolsonaro. “I watched the electoral process. I never saw a proposal of a discriminatory nature regarding minorities on the president-elect’s part. I don’t believe minorities are under threat in any way.”

He went on to pledge there will be no changes. “Nothing will change. I have great friends who are homosexual, some of the best people I know are homosexual. There’s no perspective that anything will change.”

Corruption

When asked whether he would back a decision to oust a minister suspected of corruption, Moro said that “if the allegation is consistent, I would.” He noted that he heard Bolsonaro say there would be no protection in his administration in case of graft suspicions. “He, the president-elect, said no one would be shielded.”

“I wouldn’t accept a position as justice minister if there were a risk of damaging my biography,” Moro added.

The federal judge denied any plans to run for president in 2022. He argued his is a technical, not political post. “The biggest motivation was the opportunity to go to Brasília and be able to have an agenda against corruption and organized crime.”