How Bolsonaro endangers Brazil’s historical heritage

President Jair Bolsonaro admitted to having fired members of Iphan, Brazil’s National Institute of Historic Heritage, during a December 2021 meeting with members of the São Paulo business community. He did so because they blocked a friend’s construction. The president added that he hadn’t heard of Iphan before his mate ran into problems.

The Bolsonaro administration is not the first to prioritize economic interests of allies over rules concerning heritage sites. However, attacks against Iphan have hit new heights over the past three years. To the point where the heritage institute heads are cashing in on ways to circumvent the institute.

And they don’t even bother to hide it.

Cândido Henrique, Iphan superintendent in the northeastern state of Ceará, used his social media accounts to promote paid-for webinars on how to get environmental permits from Iphan. Inscriptions cost up to 20 percent of the Brazilian minimum wage.

Mr. Henrique is a partner at Hesq, the company promoting the seminars. 

Besides the courses, Hesq...