Brazil’s Justice Minister Sergio Moro resigned on Friday and accused far-right President Jair Bolsonaro of potentially criminal meddling in law enforcement, creating a political crisis in the middle of the worsening coronavirus outbreak.
A corruption-busting former judge and high-profile minister, Moro said he quit because Bolsonaro fired federal police chief Mauricio Valeixo for personal and political reasons. His sudden exit is a hammer-blow for the government and is likely to erode support for Bolsonaro, whose popularity has already slipped due to his handling of the pandemic.
Moro’s soft-spoken address on live television included a series of devastating accusations against the president, who has yet to explain why he wanted Valeixo out. The president’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Bolsonaro said on Twitter that he would “re-establish the truth” about Moro and Valeixo’s departures at a news conference.
What's happening in Tunisia?
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for updates.
