The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, officially appointed Wellington César Lima e Silva as the new Minister of Justice and Public Security. The announcement, made at the Palácio do Planalto, confirms the replacement of Ricardo Lewandowski, who resigned last week citing personal and family reasons after nearly two years at the helm of the ministry. Lima e Silva, who until today served as General Attorney of Petrobras, is a historical ally of the PT leader. His career includes being the Special Secretary for Legal Affairs of the Presidency in the current administration and a brief stint as Minister of Justice during Dilma Rousseff's government in 2016.
Profile and career of the new minister Wellington César Lima e Silva is recognized for his solid technical training and experience in the judicial system: Education: Master in Criminal Law and Criminology (Cândido Mendes University) with doctoral credits at the Pablo de Olavide University (Spain). Experience in the Public Prosecutor's Office: He was Attorney General of Justice of the State of Bahia, where he stood out for his fight against organized crime. Political Trust: Considered a protégé of Lula, he has the support of key figures such as the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa, and Senator Jaques Wagner. With this change, the Justice portfolio undergoes its third major transition since January 2023, reflecting the search for stability in a critical area for public opinion and the re-election campaign.
Immediate challenges The new head assumes with a heavy agenda of urgencies: Public Security: Controlling organized crime in major urban centers, a topic that dominates Brazil's 2026 political agenda. Articulation with the STF: Maintaining fluidity in relations with the Judiciary, a terrain that Lima e Silva knows well due to his institutional experience. Penitentiary Management: Continuing the reforms in the prison system initiated by Lewandowski. The appointment will be published in an extra edition of the Official Gazette of the Union this same Tuesday, marking the formal start of a management that promises to prioritize technical support and political loyalty in a decisive electoral year.
