Justice and Public Security Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva has invited Piauí's Public Security Secretary Francisco Lucas Costa Veloso, known as Chico Lucas, to lead the National Public Security Secretariat. The announcement is expected this week. Lucas is a trusted figure of Governor Rafael Fonteles and was requested by the National Council of Public Security Secretaries.
New Justice and Public Security Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva has invited Francisco Lucas Costa Veloso, current Public Security Secretary of Piauí and known as Chico Lucas, to take over the National Public Security Secretariat (Senasp). A law graduate from the Federal University of Piauí, Lucas has served as a state prosecutor since 2009 and is regarded as a trusted ally of Governor Rafael Fonteles (PT).
Throughout his career, he led the Piauí branch of the Brazilian Bar Association from 2016 to 2018 and the Piauí Association of State Prosecutors. In public administration, he was director-general of the Piauí Land Institute from 2019 to 2022 under Governor Wellington Dias (PT). Lucas's name was also requested by the Consesp (National Council of Public Security Secretaries), which includes security secretaries from all federative units.
In addition to Lucas, the minister invited prosecutor Paulo Modesto to join his team. Modesto is a professor of Administrative Law at the Federal University of Bahia, president of the Brazilian Institute of Public Law, and a member of the Bahia Public Prosecutor's Office. He worked closely with the minister during the 14 days Silva led the Justice Ministry under Dilma Rousseff's (PT) government, serving as National Justice Secretary.
Another candidate is lawyer Ademar Borges, close to retired STF Justice Luís Roberto Barroso. The minister plans to replace leadership in at least four of the eight ministry secretariats, including the Executive Secretariat, Senasp, National Legislative Affairs Secretariat, and National Digital Rights Secretariat. Until new appointments are confirmed, current Senasp Secretary Mario Sarrubbo will handle duties for the Executive Secretariat as well.
Jean Uema, current National Justice Secretary, is expected to stay and is considered for the Executive Secretariat. Sources close to the minister say the team should be finalized by the weekend.
