Brazil's Lula in Epic Showdown With Acclaimed Carwash Judge
- Corruption probe’s lead jurist to question former president
- ‘A battle between the political class and the judiciary’
The building of 4th region federal court in Curitiba, southern Parana state capital, Brazil.
Photographer: Dado Galdieri/BloombergThousands of Brazilians have descended on the southern city of Curitiba for a showdown between one of the most popular leaders in the country’s history and its most famous judge at a hearing that could determine the republic’s future.
Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has arrived there to testify Wednesday afternoon before Sergio Moro, the lead jurist in the sprawling corruption probe known as Operation Carwash. If convicted of any of the charges against him, including bribe-taking and influence trafficking, the charismatic leftist who ended his second term with an approval rating of 80-plus percent could end up in prison, dashing any possibility of a political comeback.