The Brazilian Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship's Amnesty Commission granted political amnesty to former President Dilma Rousseff

By: Roberto Morejón

Two recent news stories have shaken Brazil: one concerning the pursuit of justice relating to former President Dilma Rousseff, and the other concerning an interventionist statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Brazilian Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship's Amnesty Commission granted political amnesty to former President Dilma Rousseff, apologising for her persecution and torture during the military dictatorship (in force between 1964 and 1985).

This decision is an act of justice for the former head of state, who was granted financial compensation as she lost her job.

The president of the commission, Ana Maria Lima de Oliveira, addressed Dilma as follows: 'Thank you very much for existing and for being the woman everyone calls “Dilma, brave heart”.

Declaring Dilma a political amnesty and apologising for the outrages is highly symbolic, as it acknowledges the State's atrocities under the dictatorship.

This would not have been possible during the term of office of President Jair Bolsonaro, who is nostalgic for the perpetrators of the military coup.

During the former army captain's presidency, Dilma's request for reparations was rejected, and the far-right politician mocked her.

Today, Bolsonaro is heavily implicated in his supporters' attempts to prevent the inauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.