A constant target of criticism by the government of Jair Bolsonaro since the beginning of his term, IPHAN, the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute, is experiencing a general crisis.
After the suspension of the advisory board for almost two years and the change of high-ranking officials, the institution now sees the reflection of this in a series of measures that could turn the main entity for the preservation of the country's cultural heritage into a puppet organ of Bolsonaristas.
According to experts who work with heritage, this is an unprecedented dismantling, which was not seen even in authoritarian periods in Brazil. Rapid approval of environmental licensing, distribution of key positions to allies of the government, reduction of the budget and suspension of the master's degree are some of the situations that have shaken the institute.
The situation has been aggravated by a speech that President Jair Bolsonaro gave in December, when he claimed to have fired IPHAN directors after the institution banned construction work by businessman Luciano Hang, owner of Havan stores and one of his main supporters.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon