What was AI-5?

O Institutional Act No. 5, known as AI-5, was a decree published on December 13, 1968, in the government of Arthur da Costa eSilva.

Considered the most violent phase of the military dictatorship in Brazil, the AI-5 became the greatest symbol of repression of the period.

What was AI-5 – Summary

Student organizations, journalists, intellectuals and workers' and peasants' unions were harshly persecuted and silenced during the military regime.

The National Security Law, enacted in 1967, affirmed the authoritarian nature of the period by legitimizing the repression of any demonstration that demonstrated opposition to the government or that could threaten stability national.

Artur da Costa e Silva took over presidency of Brazil in 1967. According to the “hard line” of the regime, it was during his government that the repression took on its most violent form when, in December 1968, the Institutional Act n°5 was enacted.

AI-5 determined:

• the closure of the National Congress;
• the suspension of civil rights;
• the prohibition of political demonstrations;
• the suspension of constitutional rights;
• the interruption of the warranty habeas corpus in cases of political crimes;
• the authorization of the president to intervene in states and municipalities;
• the suspension for ten years of the political rights of the individual suspected of acting against the government and national security;
• the state of siege;
• the facilitation, by the president, of creating new legislation;
• the power to dismiss, transfer and retire public servants.

From the enactment of AI-5, the government arrested thousands of opponents across the country, showing the darkest side of the dictatorship.

There was an increase in censorship of the press and the arts, restrictions on the functioning of civil organizations and persecution of opponents of the regime.

Learn more at:

• What is dictatorship?
• Presidents of the Military Dictatorship in Brazil
• Questions about the Military Dictatorship
• Amnesty Law