Hissam Hussein Guimaraes, the mayor of Araucaria, Brazil, is under fire for marrying a 16-year-old girl and appointing his mother-in-law to a high-ranking position in the city’s government. According to local reports, Guimaraes, 64, tied the knot with the girl on her 16th birthday and appointed his new wife’s mother, Marilene Hossomaki, as the secretary of the Culture and Tourism Department immediately after the wedding.
Although it is legal for minors to marry with the consent of their guardians in Brazil, the mayor’s decision has caused a backlash on social media, with many accusing him of abusing his power and influence. Furthermore, Guimaraes has violated Brazil’s federal law, which prohibits public officials from appointing family members to positions of power or granting them preferential treatment.
Hossomaki, who has reportedly been working for the city’s administration since 2021, received a salary increase after being appointed to the position of secretary. Her salary rose from roughly $3,700 to $5,600 per month.
Guimaraes, who was elected as mayor in 2016 and reelected in 2020, has since resigned from his political party amid the mounting criticism. The incident has sparked a national debate about the legal age for marriage in Brazil and the need for stricter laws to prevent child marriage and abuse of power in the country’s political system.