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Moro responds after Lula calls Lava Jato 'the great lie of the century'

3 sources · 25 May 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press ? no verbatim passage

Senator Sergio Moro (PL-PR) responded to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after the PT leader called Operation Lava Jato the "great lie of the 21st century" in an interview with TV Brasil on Friday (22). Moro, the former federal judge who led the operation's main cases, posted a video on social media stating that "the great lie of the 21st century in Brazil was you" and accused Lula of "destroying morality and ethics in the country."

Press quotes (2)
O Antagonista

"O presidente Lula (PT) afirmou que a Operação Lava Jato foi "a grande mentira do século XXI nesse país"

O Antagonista

"Lula, eu quero dizer o seguinte, a grande mentira do século XXI no Brasil foi você"

In the interview on the program Sem Censura, Lula said the media "fostered two monsters, called Moro and Dallagnol" and criticized the operation's effects on Brazilian companies. The president questioned whether the objective was to "break the companies" and claimed the press boosted the actions of the former judge and former prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol.

Press quotes (2)
O Antagonista

"os meios de comunicação "fomentaram dois monstros, chamados Moro e Dallagnol, e que depois não provaram nada"

O Antagonista

"Quebraram muitas empresas, porque, quando uma empresa pratica algum ato de corrupção, você prende o dono e deixa a empresa gerando empregos. Mas, ali, o objetivo era quebrar as empresas. A serviço de quem?"

Moro defended Lava Jato's results, citing the recovery of "more than R$ 6 billion for Petrobras" and the convictions of state company directors and businessmen. The senator associated PT governments with "corruption scandals" like Mensalão and Petrolão, and mentioned recent investigations involving INSS, stating that "your governments became synonymous with theft and corruption."

Press quotes (2)
Revista Oeste

"a Lava Jato recuperou mais de R$ 6 bilhões para a Petrobras"

O Antagonista

"Foi o caso do Mensalão, depois o Petrolão"

1. What we know (2)

Lula called Operation Lava Jato the 'great lie of the 21st century' in TV Brasil interview

3 sources A Tarde O Antagonista Revista Oeste

Moro responded through social media video attacking Lula

3 sources A Tarde O Antagonista Revista Oeste
2. Where coverage thins out (3)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (2)

Moro cites Lula's 67% rejection rate in Paraná

Reported by: Revista Oeste
Did not cover: A Tarde O Antagonista

Lula questioned if Lava Jato's objective was to break companies 'in service of whom'

Reported by: O Antagonista
Did not cover: A Tarde Revista Oeste

Conflicting versions (1)

Precise quantification of Lava Jato's judicial results

1 source — "Press generically reports that Lava Jato 'proved nothing' or had questionable results": O Antagonista
2 sources — "Judicial data shows mixed results: 8 of 45 sentences annulled, only 5 reached final judgment, about 30 awaiting analysis": Folha BBC
3. What we don't know yet (3)
  • How many of Moro's 45 sentences reached final judgment at the STF without annulment?

    Why it's still unknown: Folha survey identified only five sentences that reached final judgment, but about 30 still await definitive analysis in higher courts

    Did not cover: A Tarde Revista Oeste
  • What was the specific legal basis for the seven factual determinations that established Moro's bias in the triplex case?

    Why it's still unknown: Press generically cites 'partiality' but doesn't detail the seven specific facts recognized by the STF in March and June 2021 decisions

  • Which Lava Jato cases remain valid after the annulments for incompetence and bias?

    Why it's still unknown: Sources mention annulments but don't quantify which investigations and convictions from the operation maintain legal effects

All sources

3