Brazil's new gov't changes Amnesty Commission

Three days after Rousseff's impeachment was sealed and Michel Temer took office as president, Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes reshuffled the 25-member Amnesty Commission. Founded in 2002, the government body aims to provide moral and financial redress to the victims of exceptional acts and human rights violations perpetrated during the military dictatorship period, from 1946 to 1988.

Paulo Abrão, who chaired the commission, decided to leave the team and was replaced by Almino Afonso, former labor minister under João Goulart and a former lawmaker stripped of office by the military regime. Former Supreme Court Justice Federal Francisco Rezek was appointed first vice-president, and lawyer Grace Maria Fernandes Mendonça was named second vice-president.

The job of the commission is viewed as a duty of public interest and done by the commission members with no pay. According to the Justice Ministry, the commission, which is directly tied to the minister's office, has received over 75 thousand amnesty requests.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira