Moro goes beyond the anti-corruption agenda and talks about topics in vogue in the government

Traditionally involved in themes anti-corruptionO Senator Sergio Moro (União Brasil-PR) promises to expand its activities in areas such as agribusiness and economy. In an exclusive interview with People’s Gazettethe senator spoke about tax and judicial reformsthe project of arrest in second instance and also on the progress of large operations, such as Lava Jato. In addition to commenting on hot topics, such as nominations of ministers to the STFthe frustrated federation between União Brasil and PP and an analysis of the beginning of the Lula government.

Since entering the Legislature, Sergio Moro (who recently debuted a column in Gazeta do Povo) likes to comment that he will not be “a one-key senator”. So much so that his first bills in the Senate were on economic matters. And other topics, such as agriculture, have been his focus since the campaign in the 2022 elections, when Moro approached entities representing the sector, such as the Organization of Cooperatives of Paraná (Ocepar) and the Federation of Agriculture of Paraná (Faep ).

According to him, a strategy to promote an activity that moves the Brazilian economy. “It is a sector that invested in technology and increased productivity. Especially in the face of a scenario in which, perhaps, the federal government seeks to increase in taxation on top of the sector”, he says.

He refers to Proposals for Amendment to the Constitution (PECs) 45 and 110, of 2019, pending in the Federal Chamber and Senate, respectively. In short, they propose replacing multiple taxes levied in different areas (such as ICMS, by the states, PIS/Cofins, by the Union, and ISS, by municipalities) with a single taxation model. The National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA) defends a differentiated rate for the sector, with lower taxation on agriculture, livestock and food – the current proposals propose a single rate greater than 25%, which could cause a 573% increase in the sector’s tax burdenestimates the confederation.

“We are absolutely against raising the tax burden in any way. I must act in this sense to try to hold on to that too”, adds the senator, who is in favor of simplifying the collection of taxes. “But we cannot have included in this simplification the increase in the tax burden. And this is a risk because the federal government is a spender. It started there with a deficit of R$ 200 billion and has this desire for expansion. We will be vigilant and we will charge”, he guarantees.

Still on a topic that directly involves the sector, which accumulates losses due to the situation on the highway that transports production to the Port of Paranaguá, the BR-277, Moro is on the federal parliamentary committee that carries out the technical monitoring of highway concession projects paranaenses – and which intends to define, together with the Ministry of Transport, the toll model that will be adopted in Paraná.

“We need to have a toll that, as much as possible, combines a price that does not make it prohibitive to walk along our highways and nor (make) the cost of transporting the production of products from Paraná very expensive, but also combined with making investments”, emphasizes the senator .

anti-corruption agenda

One of the main flags of Moro, the anti-corruption agenda lives a different time from years ago, when large operations and consequent arrests of investigated were in force. “We see Federal Police operations, which I respect a lot as an institution, (but) we only see search and seizure. Where are the people being arrested? And if we don’t have a qualified repression of corruption, it tends to increase”, he believes.

For the senator, it is necessary to return to the conditions that made possible operations against corruption such as the Car wash and which led to investigations such as those of the monthly allowance. At this point, the speed of the processes triggered would also depend on the unlocking of the second instance prison project. The bill that amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to regulate imprisonment after conviction in second instance (PLS 166/2018) was unarchived in February, after submission of Moro’s application with the signature of 27 parliamentarians.

Since then, the project has aroused anxiety for approval. But, for Moro, “haste, here, is the enemy of perfection”. “We have to wait for the most appropriate moment to put it to a vote. I’m going to talk to the Senate peers to try to convince them. Legislative work is starting now. It’s no use running and suddenly the project is not approved. If it is to take six months, if it is to take a year, if it is to take seven years, but we manage to approve it, it is still a victory”, he believes.

In the case of Lava Jato, the former judge of the operation prefers not to comment on the current magistrate at the head of the task force, Eduardo Appio – which already accumulates removal requests addressed to the National Council of Justice (CNJ) by some parliamentarians, among them Deltan Dallagnol (Podemos). “I saw that the Federal Public Ministry filed a suspension exception. And when there is a suspension exception, it goes to the judge and he himself can leave the cases. If he does not leave, he will go to the Federal Regional Court. We have to wait for these developments. But I prefer not to give a specific opinion about his situation here.”

Judiciary reform and Lula’s nominations to the STF

In the past, Moro already maintained that the Judiciary should be “more efficient and less burdensome”. And he continues to defend this maxim in the Senate, as well as the reform of the Judiciary. “When I was elected, there were a lot of complaints from citizens, many even asking for the impeachment of Supreme Court ministers, which is a very complicated agenda. I am particularly against impeachment, but (this) reveals dissatisfaction with the Judiciary and we do have to invest in justice reform.”

Among the pending agendas that Moro and other opposition senators to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) endorse is the proposed amendment to the constitution (PEC) 16 of 2019, by Senator Plínio Valério (PSDB-AM). The PEC proposes to set the terms of office of ministers of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) at eight years. “I particularly think that 12 years would be better, for us to have a slightly more consolidated jurisprudence, not so changeable. It is something that we find, for example, in European constitutional courts. Removing criminal jurisdiction from the Supreme Court. It hasn’t been good for the Supreme. The Supreme Court has played a role in the political issue”, he assesses.

If approved, PEC 16/19 would also stipulate that the President of the Republic would have one month to make nominations for Supreme Ministers. Disrespecting time, the nomination would fall to the Senate. The subject draws attention to the moment, since in a short time President Lula should announce his nomination for the vacancy that Justice Ricardo Lewandowski will leave in the STF, with compulsory retirement scheduled for May. And one of the names considered is that of Cristiano Zaninwho has acted as Lula’s lawyer in the Lava-Jato cases.

“For now, what we have is speculation. President Lula himself said that he could nominate Zanin, but in fact he did not, so we will leave the moment to make any possible criticisms when this materializes, and if it does materialize”, says Moro. “There are people who want a more guaranteeing judge. There are people who want a firmer judge against criminality. I particularly fit into this second group, but we need, above these disagreements on issues, ministers and judges who are independent ”, he points out.

“When you suggest referring a personal friend, a private lawyer to the Federal Supreme Court, it’s bad because some lines are being crossed there. But the important thing in this is that the Senate needs to exercise its competence to approve or disapprove the name that is indicated by the President of the Republic”, considers Moro, who, as a member of the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ) of the Federal Senate, must participate the opinion of the house.

Federation União Brasil and PP frustrated and an analysis of the Lula government

On the day of the interview with People’s Gazettethe parties of Moro, União Brasiland the PP they were still discussing forming a federation that would guarantee a majority bench in the Chamber of Deputies. But the attempt was frustrated and, last Wednesday (15), the parties withdrew from training due to resistance faced in the states. Asked about his opinion on the matter and whether the sewing would affect his relationship with the party, Moro limited himself to saying that he followed the movements and that he preferred to wait for the developments.

“These are two large parties by Brazilian standards and it is very difficult to reconcile all positions. I’m in União Brasil, I have a political project within União Brasil, it’s a party I respect. My commitment, however, with my principles, with my voters, will always remain the same, within União Brasil, whether there is such a federation or not,” he said.

With regard to these first months of Lula at the head of the Federal Executive, Moro cites themes of impact on the economy as inductors of a negative evaluation. “There is talk of a tax reform, but it is not known exactly what the final project that the government will present will be. There is an issue of the fiscal anchor that is being discussed, which will be presented, but so far it is all smoke, ”he says. “And there was this movement, which in my view went beyond what was reasonable, of personal attacks on the president of the Central Bank (Roberto Campos Neto), which were extremely negative. Not only for the institutional image of the country, but also because future interest rates ended up rising.”

At this point, Moro justifies the amendment to Provisional Measure 1158/23, which he presented in February, with the intention of modifying the way in which decisions regarding inflation targets are voted by the National Monetary Council (CMN). “Decisions are by majority, but for the inflation target and for the periods of tolerance, unanimity should be established. For us to ensure that there was a search for consensus and the prevalence of the technical vote in the face of these populist attacks by the president of the republic. Because, if interest rates are at the top, and that is bad for the country, they are at the top because inflation is high, mainly due to a view of the federal government’s fiscal imbalance”, he justifies.

“The adjustment that has to be made is not an increase in taxes, it is a cut in expenses. Then inflation reduces, interest rates can be reduced and the country grows again based on private investment. The federal government owes us this favorable environment for investment”, he concludes.