The new government of Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro hit the ground running on its first day of business Thursday, rushing through changes to put a conservative stamp on the country by trashing progressive achievements of past administrations.
The quick reshaping of Brazilian politics spoke to Bolsonaro's desire to reform Latin America's biggest economy while in his initial electoral honeymoon phase, before fractures might appear in his atypical cabinet or his ad-hoc legislative alliances.
It also echoed the changes President Donald Trump brought to US politics. Bolsonaro, sometimes called "the Trump of the tropics," is an avowed admirer of the US leader and wants Brazil and America to form an axis through the Western Hemisphere.
Brazil's new 22-minister cabinet, staffed with seven ex-military officers, a former anti-corruption judge and a free-market economist, held its first meeting Thursday.
The measures passed so far have been by temporary decree, pending approval by the incoming Congress that starts its new session next month.
They include:
The Americas division of Human Rights Watch expressed concern, saying it showed a misunderstanding of "the independent role these entities have in an open and democratic society."
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