Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's Far- Right President Targets Minorities On First Day In Office [View all]
Source: The Independent
Newly installed president Jair Bolsonaro has targeted Brazils indigenous groups, descendants of slaves and the LGBT community with executive orders in the first hours of his administration. He has moved quickly after a campaign in which the far-right leader said he would radically overhaul many aspects of life in Latin Americas largest nation.
Meanwhile, Sao Paulos stock market jumped 3.56 per cent to a record closing of 91,012 points as new cabinet ministers reinforced the intent to privatise state-owned companies and a Brazilian arms maker benefited from Mr Bolsonaros plans to loosen gun controls. Similar spikes in stock prices also occurred during the presidential campaign.
One of the orders issued late on Tuesday, hours after Mr Bolsonaros inauguration, is likely to make it all but impossible for new lands to be identified and demarcated for indigenous communities. Areas set aside for Quilombolas, as descendants of former slaves are known, are also affected by the decision. Another order removed the concerns of the LGBT community from consideration by the new human rights ministry.
In a move favourable to his allies in agribusiness, which have criticised giving large swaths of lands to the indigenous, Mr Bolsonaro transferred the responsibilities for delineating indigenous territories from the Justice Ministry to the Agriculture Ministry.
Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/jair-bolsanaro-brazil-first-day-executive-orders-indigenous-lands-lgbt-privatisation-gun-control-a8709801.html
NYT, Gay Couples Rush To Wed Before Brazil's New President Takes Office, Dec. 29, 2018.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/29/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-gay-marriage.html