Fears mount for the Brazilian corruption probe as President Temer passes over top nominee in favour of Dodge.
Brazil’s new attorney general has taken office despite mounting doubts over what her appointment will mean for the future of her predecessor’s campaign against corruption.
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Raquel Dodge took over as head of the prosecutor-general’s office from Rodrigo Janot, under whose tenure investigators uncovered Brazil’s largest graft scheme and who last week formally charged President Michel Temer with leading a criminal organisation and obstruction of justice.
Dodge was favoured by the embattled leader over the top nominee, who is considered to be an ally of Janot.
Although Dodge was second out of three candidates after a vote by the body of federal prosecutors charged with selecting attorney generals, the National Association of Prosecutors of the Republic, the president had the final say.
She will be responsible for prosecuting politicians in the corruption-plagued nation, where a massive probe into the financial affairs of its high-ranking officials is underway.
During his four-year tenure, Janot lodged three corruption charges against Temer. One, for allegedly taking bribes, was blocked by the lower house of Congress in early August.
Under Brazilian law, a president can only be tried before the Supreme Court if two-thirds of federal deputies vote to allow it.