Brazilian Justice Minister Sergio Moro resigns after disagreement with Bolsonaro

Brasília, April 24 (RHC)-- The Brazilian Minister of Justice, Sergio Moro, the former judge who put Lula da Silva in prison, presented his resignation from the government on Friday because he disagreed with a measure taken by President Jair Bolsonaro. 

The announcement by Moro, until now one of the president's star ministers, comes just one week after the dismissal of Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta for his disagreements with the management of the COVID-19 virus.

Moro's resignation comes after Bolsonaro dismissed Maurício Valeixo, director general of the Federal Police (PF), in an attempt to put a person close to him in his place.  Moro said at a harsh press conference that he was "surprised" and found the news "offensive."  Furthermore, he did not sign the dismissal.  "For me it meant that the president wanted me out of office," he said.

"I hope that after my departure someone with a technical profile will be chosen regardless of personal and political preferences," Moro said, while "regretting" this situation in the midst of the pandemic.  "I have no choice," he said.