Brazil: RSF decries public media platform chief's dismissal
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 17 May 2016 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Brazil: RSF decries public media platform chief's dismissal, 17 May 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/577630c04.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) deplores Acting President Michel Temer's decision today to issue a decree arbitrarily firing Ricardo Melo as head of the Brazilian Communication Agency (EBC).
Melo, who is a journalist, was legally appointed to the position of EBC director-general two weeks ago by Dilma Rousseff before she was suspended as Brazil's president for her impeachment trial.
According to the law that created the EBC, its director-general is appointed for a four-year term that is not linked to elections or changes of government. Brazil's president does not have the power to fire an EBC director-general and name a new one. This is supposed to guarantee the impartiality and autonomy of the agency, which is in charge of all state communication.
"We condemn this decision by President Temer, which is both arbitrary and contrary to Brazilian law," said Emmanuel Colombié, the head of RSF's Latin America desk.
"It is a clear attempt to interfere in public communication in Brazil. Information must be produced in an autonomous manner, without interference or manipulation by politicians. The EBC's credibility is at stake."
According to the latest reports, Temer has already chosen the journalist Laerte Rimoli to replace Melo. Rimoli was the press officer of Eduardo Cunha, the former speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, during the proceedings that suspended Rousseff. He was also part of the campaign team of Aécio Neves, Rousseff's main challenger in the last presidential election.
