Iphan Headquarters in Recife – (Photo: Publicity)

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The changes that President Jair Bolsonaro pushed at the National Institute for Historical and Artistic Heritage (Ifan) to meet the interests of allies such as businessman Luciano Hang were not limited to the presidency of the body. The executive director “ripped off” – by this term he called the dismissal ordered by him – five more directors of the institute. His government also deepened policy directives and people with technical qualifications not related to heritage protection into state superintendents.

A survey conducted by the Forum of Brazilian Cultural Heritage Organizations shows that IPHAN’s 12 Regional Superintendents have professional characteristics that are incompatible with their positions. Another five people are architects or technicians in the field, but do not have an academic specialization.

The requirement for special training for appointment is expressed in the 2019 Bolsonaro government decree.

The first to lose his job in October 2019 after the first complaints from the owner of Havan stores was architect Andrei Schlee, then director of the Department of Material Heritage and Inspection. The department oversees the activities of the National Center for Archeology, which is responsible for the temporary suspension of the construction of the Havana division in the city of Rio Grande (RS) in 2019.

Bolsonaro admitted last week that he ripped apart Ifan’s directors because of an embargo on the Havana project. The president’s first ally, Luciano Hang, said the hiatus caused by archaeological finds on earth caused him to “put his mouth on the trombone.”

After Schlee, four more directors were replaced. The same happened with Katia Bozha, who had to transfer the post of President of Ifan to Larisa Pereira, who had previously served in the Ministry of Tourism. Katya has worked at Iphan for almost 40 years. “They took away all the directors who had been in the house for over 30 years. They were people from Ifan, just like me, a career worker, ”said the former president of Estadão. “What happened in Ifan was a showdown.”

The court even suspended Larisa’s appointment due to “lack of technical training.” She has a degree in tourism and hospitality and a master’s degree in marketing. However, the decision was overturned in the second instance.

Highlighting

The institute’s new directors include Pastor Tassos Likurgo of the Department of Intangible Heritage. He replaced lawyer Germano Guanais, a master of cultural preservation. Lack of technical qualifications to work in the position is one of the main problems in the management of the body, identified by organizations and specialists. In the Federal District, Superintendent Saulo Diniz is the designation of Deputy Pocketnarista Bia Kicis (PSL-DF). Before taking up a post at Ifan, he was from the PSL directory.

In Goias, the Superintendent is appointed by Deputy Alcides Ribeiro (Progressistas-GO). Allison Cabral is a lawyer with no experience in the field in which he works today. Olav Schrader, in charge of the organization in Rio, has a degree in international relations, manages historic properties and is associated with the monarchist movement.

Wanted, Ifan and Planalto’s palace failed to appear.

Mario de Andrade made the first organ project

One of the oldest institutions in Brazil, the National Institute for Historical and Artistic Heritage (Ifan) is a federal agency affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism. Its functions include protecting and promoting the country’s cultural property, preventing the evasion and loss of works, art and other related items.

IPHAN has 27 superintendents, one in each federal division, and 37 technical offices. The first project for the creation of Ifan was written by the modernist writer Mario de Andrade in 1936. The body will be created next year on the initiative of the lawyer, journalist and writer Rodrigo Melo Franco, who led the institute for 30 years.

Information from the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo.