Retired Supreme Federal Court (STF) minister Ricardo Lewandowski will take over the Ministry of Justice and Public Security in the Lula (PT) government. Lewandowski, 75, will replace Flávio Dino, who leaves the ministry to take up a seat in the Supreme Court.
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Profile
Lewandowski left the STF in April 2023, upon turning 75, which is the maximum age for Court ministers. He was replaced at the time by Lula’s lawyer, Cristiano Zanin. The jurist was appointed to the Supreme Court by Lula himself, in 2006. He headed the Court from 2014 to 2016. He was always seen as someone who faced public opinion at key moments for the PT governments in the STF. During the 17 years in which he held a seat in the Supreme Court, Lewandowski decided in favor of President Lula’s allies in episodes of party crisis, such as the “Mensalão” and Car Wash Operation (Operação Lava Jato).
For example, he allowed a separate vote on Dilma’s loss of office and her disqualification from holding public office for eight years. Furthermore, he voted to acquit former minister José Dirceu and former PT president José Genoino, but his vote was unsuccessful. Furthermore, he authorized Lula’s defense to access leaked messages from members of the Federal Public Ministry’s task force. This material began the downfall of the operation.
Despite his close relationship with the Workers’ Party (PT), he is seen as a moderate progressive, with good circulation even among supporters of Bolsonaro opposition members. Outside the Judiciary, the retired minister maintained a close relationship with the government and with Lula, with whom he is friends. He was part of the government delegation that traveled to the United Arab Emirates for COP-28.
Political Chess
Lewandowski appears as a consensus choice, to end the disputes on the left surrounding the succession of Dino, a member of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), an important government ally. The party was a fundamental mechanism for Alckmin, a traditionally right-wing politician, to join Lula’s reelection campaign, providing the then-candidate with a better image for voters positioned more in the center and even some in the right of the political spectrum. The move was also important for Lula to be accepted by the industry and the financial market, even though Bolsonaro remained their favorite option.
According to allies, the direct consequence of Lewandowski’s appointment is the PSB’s loss of space, while posts linked to the PT must be preserved.
Still, even with Dino’s departure, the PSB will have two ministries: of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise, and Small Business, with Márcio França; and Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services, with Vice-president Geraldo Alckmin.
Analysis:
The Ministry of Justice is one of the most important positions in the Federal Government, mainly due to the capillarity of its actions and the areas in which it operates, involving coordinated security actions throughout the country, control of the penitentiary system, the Federal Police, the Federal Highway Police, and the National Force. Public security is seen by groups of the government as the biggest challenge to be faced by the Workers’ Party administration in this second year of Lula’s third term in Planalto. The retired judge is seen as well prepared for the position he will occupy, and promote advances, especially in Public Security. Among the specific challenges to be faced, is the policy of mass incarceration, which generates overcrowded prisons, and poor living conditions, which do not help to contain the spread of crime. Another challenge is the expansion of the criminal factions that control drug trafficking throughout the country and even to other nations of Latin America. The crisis in Ecuador is serious and it could inspire actions in other nations, as Ecuadorian gangs have a dialogue with Brazilian criminal groups, which is the case of the First Capital Command (PCC). Another challenge in security is the implementation of the National Program to Combat Criminal Organizations, with an announced investment of R$ 900 million reais in three years, almost nothing has yet been done. A fourth challenge is the public security crises in Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. The fifth is the expansion of criminal factions in the Amazon associated with the exploitation of natural resources in environmental reserves and indigenous territories. Other highlights include the fight against the expansion of online crimes, such as scams, cyber-attacks, and dissemination of fake news, particularly during the 2024 municipal elections, the most violent in the country.
Source: O Globo
