Who is Sergio Moro?
Sergio Moro was the federal judge who handled the Operation Car Wash corruption cases in Curitiba. In 2019 he became Justice and Public Security Minister under Jair Bolsonaro and resigned on 24 April 2020, accusing the president of seeking to interfere in the Federal Police. He was elected Senator for Paraná in 2022. After leaving the União Brasil, he joined the PL on 24 March 2026. On 4 October 2026 he won the Paraná governorship in the first round with 50.10 percent of valid votes, ahead of Sandro Alex (PSD) at 25.37 percent and Requião Filho (PDT) at 23.47 percent. He takes office on 6 January 2027 and succeeds Ratinho Junior.
Previously: Governor-elect of Paraná (elected in the first round, October 2026) · Senator for Paraná (2023-2026) · Minister of Justice and Public Security (2019-2020) · Federal judge in Curitiba, Operation Car Wash (to 2018)
Documented positions
- Proposed integrated electronic surveillance centres using public and private cameras, artificial intelligence and facial recognition, and a maximum-security state prison.Source: cnnbrasil.com.br
- Promised a state anti-corruption agency, a code of ethics for senior officials and digital access to government services and accounts.Source: cnnbrasil.com.br
- Defended a gradual reduction of taxes, ruled out re-nationalizing the power company Copel and promised a "choque de gestão" at the utility Sanepar.Source: cnnbrasil.com.br
- Said in September 2026 that he had set aside past disagreements with Bolsonaro, had backed him against Lula in 2022, and supports Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential bid.Source: cnnbrasil.com.br
- Said he signed an impeachment request against Justice Alexandre de Moraes and that he voted against Flávio Dino's Supreme Court nomination in the secret Senate ballot.Source: cnnbrasil.com.br
- In February 2025 he said he favoured an amnesty for those jailed over the 8 January 2023 riots, arguing that the sentences are excessive and that the amnesty should not be mixed with 1964 or 2026.Source: crusoe.com.br
- Left the Justice Ministry on 24 April 2020 after Bolsonaro moved to replace the Federal Police director, saying he saw an attempt at political interference.Source: conjur.com.br
Record
On 8 March 2021 Justice Edson Fachin annulled the Car Wash convictions of Lula because the Curitiba court lacked jurisdiction. On 23 March 2021 the Supreme Court's Second Panel ruled 3 to 2 that Moro was partial in the Guarujá triplex case. In May 2024 the Superior Electoral Court voted 7 to 0 to reject petitions by the PT and PL to remove his Senate mandate over alleged abuse of economic power in the 2022 campaign. The rapporteur called some pre-campaign spending questionable but not proven fraud.
Supporters credit him with the Car Wash corruption prosecutions and his anti-crime agenda. Critics, including Lula's lawyers and the Supreme Court majority in 2021, charge that he acted with partiality, and others criticise his move to work with Bolsonaro and then to the PL.
