Lula Appoints Ricardo Lewandowski as Minister of Justice; He is expected to take office in February
The Ministers of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) received notification from Palácio do Planalto informing that the former president of the Court, Ricardo Lewandowski, will assume the position of Minister of Justice, succeeding Flávio Dino, who will occupy a position in the STF.
Lewandowski will be the new head of the Ministry of Justice, replacing Flávio Dino - Photo Reproduction/Internet
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced thisThursday (11) the appointment of the former minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Ricardo Lewandowski, as the new Minister of Justice of Brazil. Lewandowski, whoHe is currently a referee for theMercosur Permanent Review Court, will take over the position previously held by Flávio Dino, appointed by Lula and approved by the Senate as the next STF minister, with his inauguration scheduled for February. The announcement was made at Palácio do Planalto in the presence of Lula, Lewandowski, Flávio Dino and the first lady, Janja da Silva. The president indicated that the appointment will be made official on January 19th, and the new minister's inauguration is scheduled for February 1st.
"I'm only going to make the decree of his officialization, at his request, because of private things he has to do, on the 19th. We agreed that he will take office on the 1st of February. Until then, my friend Flávio Dino, who will only take office on February 22nd, he will carry out his role in the masterful way he has done so far", said Lula.
According to the president, Lewandowski was an extraordinary Supreme Court minister. He received positive confirmation from the retired minister on Wednesday (10) to take up the position. Furthermore, the president highlighted that both the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court and, ultimately, the Brazilian people, will benefit from the addition of this duo to the government, each one playing their specific role by my side.
Lula stated that, in February, Lewandowski will have a team ready. They plan to discuss management changes together, deciding who stays, who leaves, who joins and what the news will be. After leaving the pulpit, Lula mentioned that First Lady Janja expressed the desire for women to play a significant role in the new administration of the sector, and Lewandowski responded in the affirmative, saying: "Certainly."
Ricardo Lewandowski
Ricardo Lewandowski, born on May 11, 1948, in Rio de Janeiro, is a renowned jurist and former minister of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) of Brazil. His trajectory is marked by a solid academic and professional training in the legal field. He obtained his bachelor's degree in political and social sciences at the São Paulo School of Sociology and Politics, as well as training in legal and social sciences at the Faculty of Law of São Bernardo do Campo. Lewandowski holds a master's degree and a doctorate from the Faculty of Law of the University of São Paulo, in addition to having obtained a master's degree in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, at Tufts University, in the United States.
He was appointed to the STF in 2006 by then president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. During his time in court, Lewandowski stood out in important cases, being rapporteur for the Mensalão trial, one of the biggest corruption scandals in Brazilian politics. Furthermore, he presided over the impeachment of former president Dilma Rousseff in 2016. Lewandowski is known for his technical stance and contributions to the development of law in the country.
However, his decisions and positions were also the subject of criticism and debate, reflecting the complexities of the Brazilian judicial system. He retired from the STF inApril 2023, ending his career as a minister at the highest court in the country.
Repercussion
The name of the retired former minister of the Federal Supreme Court had already been discussed for a few weeks, and speculation gained strength after a series of meetings between Lula, Dino and Lewandowski this week. A meeting took place on Monday, followed by another meeting on Wednesday and a third meeting this Thursday.
Following the announcement, several authorities and organizations expressed their opinions on Lewandowski's appointment to the position. In a statement, the president of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) congratulated the minister on his new role and made himself available to the institution to collaborate on "projects and initiatives". The Association of Federal Judges of Brazil (Ajufe) also sent congratulations to Lewandowski in a note, wishing him success in his new ministerial responsibilities.
"Ajufe wishes Minister Ricardo Lewandowski success in his new stage and is available to collaborate in this challenging mission of his professional career", says the document.
Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Dias Toffoli expressed his opinion on the choice, highlighting that President Lula's decision was extremely correct and happy. According to Toffoli, the appointment of Minister Ricardo Lewandowski to the position of Minister of Justice and Public Security reveals remarkable wisdom and happiness. For Toffoli, Lewandowski not only has the necessary skills for the challenges inherent to the role, but also transcends the position he will occupy, which is something exceptional.
It highlights not only his competence, but also his generosity, humility and commitment to the collective well-being of society. Furthermore, it highlights his deep love for the country. Toffoli concludes his statement by wishing Lewandowski all the luck in the world, recognizing that the new Minister possesses in abundance the necessary attributes to successfully carry out his responsibilities.
