President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on Tuesday (13) the appointment of Wellington César Lima e Silva as the new Minister of Justice and Public Security, replacing Ricardo Lewandowski. The appointee, former Attorney General of Bahia with a brief stint in the role in 2016, has support from Bahia's PT allies but is little known to congressmen outside the state. Politicians express mixed views on his security public experience.
Wellington César Lima e Silva, announced by Lula on January 13, 2026, takes over the Ministry of Justice and Public Security after a brief stint in the role in 2016 during Dilma Rousseff's government. At that time, he served only 14 days, as the STF annulled his appointment by ruling that Public Ministry members cannot hold Executive positions. The action's rapporteur, Gilmar Mendes, was joined by all justices, including Ricardo Lewandowski, then STF president, who justified: "Of course it's a difficult, personal decision, but the Supreme Federal Court is absolutely not interfering in the President's decision".
Prior to the current appointment, Lima e Silva was Attorney General of Justice in Bahia during PT administrations, special secretary for Legal Affairs in the Presidency at the start of Lula's third term until July 2024, and then headed Petrobras' legal department. The choice was articulated by Jaques Wagner and supported by Rui Costa and Bahia's PT wing. The appointment was published in an extra edition of the Official Gazette of the Union and discussed in a Palácio do Planalto meeting with interim minister Manoel Carlos de Almeida Neto, focusing on priorities in an election year, with public security highlighted for 2026.
Congress members react variably. Deputy Mendonça Filho (União-PE), rapporteur of the Public Security PEC, views his MP background positively: "He knows the role of the Gaecos, understands criminal prosecution and grasps the importance of being on the front lines". However, Senator Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE) warns he lacks grounding in security and criticizes the Lula government's attention to the issue. Deputy Alberto Fraga (PL-DF) questions choosing non-experts, while Senator Otto Alencar (PSD-BA) praises his executive capacity and Lula's trust. PT leader Lindbergh Farias (RJ) highlights his combative profile, useful in an election year.
