Lewandowski Poised to Exit Brazil's Justice Ministry as Soon as Friday

Overview

• Ricardo Lewandowski informed President Lula and his senior staff that he plans to resign this week, with multiple outlets pointing to Friday, January 9, for a formal exit.
• Executive secretary Manoel Carlos de Almeida Neto and national public security secretary Mario Sarrubbo are expected to leave as well, though Manoel Carlos is slated to steer an interim transition.
• Federal Police director-general Andrei Rodrigues is frequently cited as the leading contender to take over, with other names in circulation reflecting a dispute over whether the role should be more political or technical.
• With the PEC on public security and the Antifacção bill stalled until after the congressional recess, the ministry issued orders creating a national criminal information system and a standardized protocol for eyewitness recognition.
• Lewandowski’s exit has renewed internal discussions about splitting the current portfolio into separate Justice and Public Security ministries, an option Lula has signaled could follow progress on the security PEC.