Lula Names Wellington César Lima e Silva to Lead Justice and Public Security

Overview

• Lula confirmed the appointment to replace Ricardo Lewandowski, with the nomination to appear in an extra Diário Oficial today and a swearing-in expected within days.
• The pick maintains Justice and Public Security as a single portfolio despite internal pressure to split the areas.
• Backed by Jaques Wagner, Rui Costa and Sidônio Palmeira, Wellington César, 60, is Petrobras’ general counsel and a former Planalto legal adviser seen as a trusted Lula confidant.
• He previously served 11 days as justice minister in 2016 before an STF ruling on prosecutors holding executive posts; he is now retired from the Bahia Public Ministry.
• Early priorities include reviving the reworked Public Security PEC and advancing the anti-gang bill in Congress, while coordinating federal policing and relations with state governors in an election year.