Marcelo Xavier

Marcelo Xavier served as the president of the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai) during Jair Bolsonaro's presidency. He has been sentenced to ten years in prison by the Federal Court of Amazonas for persecuting Funai employees and Indigenous leaders, as well as pressuring for the approval of the Linhão de Tucuruí energy transmission project. His tenure was marked by controversies, including failing to demarcate Indigenous lands and initiating investigations against Indigenous activists. Following his dismissal from Funai in December 2022, his actions have been criticized for undermining Indigenous rights and the foundation's mission.