By Decree, a General May Appoint Rectors for Federal Universities

By Arkady Petrov

BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL – Decree 9794/19, signed by President Bolsonaro on May 14th and published the following day in the Federal Gazette, modifies the system of appointments for governmental positions; it will entitle a general to veto or approve appointments of the rectors of federal institutions of higher learning.

It now falls upon the Presidential Government Secretariat, a department headed by General Santos Cruz, to endorse not only the appointment of rectors for federal universities but also that of vice-rectors, dean and other senior staff positions, thereby reducing university autonomy.

The decree also establishes that Santos Cruz may endorse the appointment to positions held abroad, such as ambassadors.

The shift has come in the midst of a national uprising against cuts in funding to universities and federal educational institutions. “It is [designed] to better organize the appointment system” Santos Cruz told journalist Andréia Sadi of GloboNews.

Yesterday, the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) submitted to the Chamber of Deputies a draft bill that would suspend Bolsonaro’s decree conferring more power upon Santos Cruz to interfere in university staff appointments.

According to PSB, the decree violates university autonomy expressly provided for in Article 207 of the 1988 Federal Constitution.

Federal Deputy Alessandro Molon (PSB-RJ) commented, “It’s another attempt to attack the autonomy of universities to weaken them. But it will have the opposite effect: protests will increase. And we, the opposition, will fight to overthrow this decree here in Parliament.”