Brazil: Michel Temer Announces Federal Intervention In Roraima

Unelected Brazilian President Michel Temer decreed a federal intervention on the State of Roraima in the northeast of the country, on the border of Venezuela. The presidential decree comes amid a security crisis in the state, generated by a strike on several police and security forces, protesting for better a wage situation. The public security and penitentiary agents are on strike since Dec. 6th.

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Brazil's President Michel Temer said on Friday he had reached an agreement with Roraima state Governor Suely Campos for a federal "intervention" in the state that borders Venezuela. Temer said via Twitter that he and the governor came to the conclusion that a negotiated intervention would be the best solution to "pacify" the situation in Roraima

The federal intervention will last until December 31st, then Governor Campos will hand over her functions to an "inverventor" (a person leading the intervention) until the end of the month. On Jan, 1st, the new governor will take charge, Antonio Denarium from the Social Liberal Party(PSL) - the same party as President-elect Jair Bolsonaro. According to local media, "Isto E", the interventor would be Antonio Denarium, but this will be decided on Saturday, by President Temer.

The Roraima state is asking for extraordinary credit of around 150-200 million Reais (U$D 38,389,500 - 51,186,000) from the Federal Government, in order to be able to pay the salary of the security forces, public employees and other expenses. This money would be out of the provisions for expenses of the Brazilian Union.

President Temer met with several ministers, the president of the lower chamber of Congress, and the Union's Attorney General, in which the federal intervention was decided - as was the release of part of the money asked by the Roraima authorities. The solution provided by Temer's team is a federal intervention of the State, "until the new governor is sworn-in."

"I negotiated intervention with the Governor. She agreed to this formula. He thinks that, in-fact, the situation is becoming complicated in the state of Roraima and that the best solution would be precisely this," Temer stated.

He added that he "hope(s) that the movement fades, and it is more understanding because after all, the military forces, prison agents, and all those who dedicate themselves to the public task, have to think about the population of Roraima."

The intervention of Roraima is significantly broader than the one in Rio de Janeiro where in February the federal institutions took control of the public security and will continue this until December 31st.

In Roraima, the federal government will take over all the functions of the state's government. According to several analysts, the intervention of Rio has been a mistake, as insecurity and murder rates have grown.

President Temer summoned a meeting of the Council of the Republic and National Defense to address the issue this Saturday. The president said he will not only issue an intervention decree, but other normative measures.