Brazil: New Minister of Justice sworn in

President Michel Temer on Wednesday (May 31) swore jurist Torquato Jardim into office as Minister of Justice and Public Security. At a ceremony in the Planalto, Temer said Brazil has experienced a great deal of “institutional conflict” and urged letting the court system work “in peace”.

“We need to restore institutional order in the country as soon as possible. This means keeping order and observance of the law,” the president said, calling on the new minister to help maintain “legal limits”.

The president noted that “the real authority in Brazil lies lies with the law, so whenever someone crosses the legal line, they are abusing authority.” Addressing the new minister, Temer said that “with his great expertise, he will have much to contribute as we go through these times.”

Torquato Jardim has taken over the Ministry of Justice after heading the Ministry of Transparency and Comptrolling. The former minister of Justice replaced by Jardim, Deputy Osmar Serraglio, who turned down the president's offer to head the Transparency Ministry, did not show up at the swearing-in ceremony. As Serraglio returns to the Chamber of Deputies, his alternate in the house, Rodrigo Rocha Loures, will lose his partial immunity benefit, which means he can now be prosecuted at a lower court. Loures has been recorded carrying a suitcase with R$500,000 ($153,000) which, according to Federal Police, was a kickback payment sent by business tycoon Joesley Batista, owner of JBS meatpacking company. The suitcase and the money have been turned in to the authorities.

Translated by Mayra Borges