Lula Formalizes Lewandowski’s Exit and Installs Manoel Carlos as Interim Justice Minister

Overview

• An extra edition of the Diário Oficial da União on Jan. 9 published Ricardo Lewandowski’s requested dismissal and named the ministry’s executive secretary, Manoel Carlos de Almeida Neto, as interim minister.
• Lewandowski resigned citing personal and family reasons after nearly two years in the role and leaves without securing congressional approval of the Public Security PEC.
• The government is weighing a possible division of Justice and Public Security, with PT factions and security institutions maneuvering as names such as Andrei Rodrigues, Wellington César Lima e Silva, Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, Marco Aurélio de Carvalho, and Tarso Genro are floated.
• The change lifts ministerial turnovers in Lula’s current term to 15, reflecting a broader reshuffle expected in an election year.
• Lewandowski received public praise from figures like STF Justice Gilmar Mendes and AGU chief Jorge Messias, even as political opponents criticized his tenure.