Datafolha Poll: 58 Percent of Brazilians Find Moro’s Messages Inappropriate

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A survey conducted by Datafolha and published this Saturday, July 6th, shows that 58 percent of Brazilians considered inappropriate the leaked conversations held between Sérgio Moro, then judge of Operation Lava Jato, and Task Force prosecutors, in particular, its coordinator, Deltan Dallagnol.

Conversely, 31 percent viewed the messages as appropriate. People with no opinion represent 11 percent of those interviewed.

However, 55 percent of those interviewed do not believe that Moro should leave his position as Justice Minister, a post he took up this year at the invitation of President Jair Bolsonaro (PSL), who won the election last year by defeating Fernando Haddad, a leftist supported by former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

Some 38 percent feel that Moro should resign, and those with no opinion were seven percent. Moro’s approval rating as minister fell from 59 percent in April to 52 percent in this survey.

According to data published in a Folha de S.Paulo newspaper report, the lower the income range of those interviewed, the higher the rate of disapproval of the leaked conversations.

The youngest are also the ones who most disapprove of the leaked messages. By region, the rejection is more significant in the Northeast (56 percent), followed by Center-West and North (44 percent), Southeast (35 percent), and South (33 percent).

The survey also shows that, should the conversations be confirmed, 59 percent of respondents agree that the content is serious and that Moro’s decisions as judge in the operation’s cases should be re-examined.

Another 30 percent believe that the conversations are of no importance in light of Lava Jato’s results in the fight against corruption, while 11 percent did not express any opinion.

The alleged conversations have been leaked through a series of reports produced by journalist Glenn Greenwald’s The Intercept Brasil, which has become internationally known for reports on the U.S. government’s global espionage program.

Bolsonaro has been supporting Moro and said on Friday, July 5th, that he plans to attend the Copa América final between Brazil and Peru in Maracanã on Sunday, alongside his Justice and Public Security minister. “And the people will decide if we’re right or not,” said the president.