A Pattern of Behavior

In 2019, Folha de São Paulo revealed a Federal Police wiretap from 2015 in which Alexandre de Moraes, then São Paulo’s Secretary of Security, spoke with an investigated judge. At that time, the audio suggested lobbying within the Supreme Court, mentioning ministers such as Dias Toffoli and Gilmar Mendes. Moreover, the most revealing detail was the phrase about waiting for Joaquim Barbosa to go on vacation to facilitate decisions, showing that the Court’s composition was used as a strategic variable. Therefore, this was not neutrality but political engineering.

From Past to Present

More recently, this episode resurfaced in 2025 when journalist Malu Gaspar reported that Moraes allegedly interceded with Central Bank President Gabriel Galípolo in favor of Banco Master. According to her investigation, there were at least four contacts—three by phone and one in person. However, the context is even more serious: Moraes’s wife, Viviane Barci, had a contract worth R$ 129 million with the bank, supposedly to act before the Central Bank. Nevertheless, this formal action never materialized. Thus, suspicions of conflict of interest intensified.

Documentation and Silence

Interestingly, Galípolo documented all meetings, something rare in Brazil. At the same time, the Central Bank already knew about the R$ 12 billion fraud in Master’s operations with BRB. Consequently, Moraes’s silence, along with his wife’s, suggests that concrete evidence exists. In contrast, a minister usually vocal on public issues now remains absolutely silent. Therefore, this silence appears strategic rather than accidental.

Political and Legal Reactions

Soon after, jurists such as Walter Maierovitch stated that if proven Moraes used his position to benefit private interests, he could be charged with administrative advocacy. In addition, lawmakers like Alessandro Vieira and Marcel Van Hatten announced initiatives for a CPI and impeachment requests. On the other hand, Estadão classified the case as serious and demanded quick clarification, warning that credibility of justice was at stake. Thus, the episode gained institutional weight.

Institutional Risk

Indeed, the Banco Master case exposes a pattern: strategic decisions, informal contacts, and multimillion contracts involving family members. As a result, the line between public duty and private interest collapses. Consequently, trust in the impartiality of the Supreme Court weakens and democratic balance is threatened. Therefore, the episode reinforces the urgent need for a code of conduct for justices, as analysts have already suggested. Finally, society demands transparency.

Critical Conclusion

In summary, from 2015 to 2025, the episodes involving Alexandre de Moraes show that these are not isolated cases but a pattern of behavior. Thus, both the old lobbying and the current pressure in favor of Banco Master reveal institutional capture by private interests. Therefore, Brazilian democracy requires rigorous investigation and transparency, or else the Judiciary risks becoming a tool of personal power. In conclusion, this case is a warning for all who defend the separation of powers.

CTA: Want to understand how lobbying patterns and conflicts of interest threaten democracy? Explore other articles by Pedro Freitas and keep your critical eye on the Supreme Court and Brazil’s financial system.

Sources:

• Folha de São Paulo – Federal Police wiretap involving Alexandre de Moraes (2019)
• O Globo / Malu Gaspar – Moraes’s contacts with Galípolo in favor of Banco Master
• Gazeta do Povo – R$ 129 million contract between Moraes’s wife and the bank
• Metrópoles – Central Bank confirms meetings with Moraes
• Estadão – editorial on the seriousness of the case