Temer picks Raquel Dodge to succeed Janot as Prosecutor-General

The presidential office at Planalto Palace announced President Michel Temer has chosen Associate Prosecutor Raquel Elias Ferreira Dodge to succeed the incumbent Prosecutor-General, Rodrigo Janot, who heads the Federal Prosecution Service (MPF), when his term ends in September. The information was released by presidential spokesman Alexandre Parola in a press briefing on Wednesday night (June 28).

“Raquel Dodge is the first woman ever to be appointed to the Prosecutor-General's Office,” Parola said.

Temer's appointment is subject to confirmation by Senate. The president received a shortlist with three nominations from the MPF members. Raquel was the second most voted by the prosecutors Tuesday (27). This is the first time in 14 years the president has not picked the best-voted candidate.

If Dodge passes her confirmation hearing at Senate, she will only take office on September 17, when Rodrigo Janot's term ends. He was responsible for the prosecution of hundreds of politicians implicated in the massive Car Wash corruption scandal, including the recent indictment of President Michel Temer himself.

The three-nominee shortlist system was created in 2001 and is advocated by prosecutors as an important way of ensuring the independence of the Prosecution Service from government. Under the Constitution, the President of the Republic can pick any of the more than 1,400 serving career members to head the PGR. Since 2003, however, the president's pick has been the best voted among the nominees chosen by the Association of Federal Prosecutors.

The Deputy Prosecutor General before the Superior Electoral Court, Nicolao Dino, was the best-voted candidate with 621 votes, followed by Raquel Dodge (587 votes) and Mauro Bonsaglia (564 votes).

Dodge holds a Law master's degree from Harvard University and has been a member of the Federal Prosecution Service for 30 years. She currently is currently an Associate Federal Prosecutor-General and handles criminal matters at the Superior Court of Justice. She is also on her third two-year term as a member of the Superior Council of the Public Ministry. She served as Federal Ombudsman and helped draft the 1st National Plan to Eradicate Slave Labor in Brazil.

Translated by Mayra Borges