Lewandowski Resigns as Brazil's Justice Minister, Manoel Carlos Named Interim

Overview

• Ricardo Lewandowski submitted a resignation letter to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva citing personal and family reasons, effective January 9, and noted political, conjunctural and budgetary limits during his tenure.
• The Justice Ministry said secretary‑executive Manoel Carlos de Almeida Neto will take over on an interim basis starting January 9, with the formal dismissal expected in the official gazette.
• The vacancy has accelerated internal discussions about dividing Justice and Public Security into separate ministries, a move under consideration but not yet decided.
• Press reports list potential successors under evaluation, including Federal Police director Andrei Rodrigues, CGU minister Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, Senator Rodrigo Pacheco and Wellington César Lima e Silva.
• Lewandowski’s exit marks the 15th ministerial change of Lula’s third term, as the government reassesses strategy with the security PEC still stuck in Congress.