Definition included Lula’s appeal to Lewandowski’s wife – 01/13/2024 – Power

The effort led by Lula (PT) to place retired STF (Supreme Federal Court) minister Ricardo Lewandowski in the Ministry of Justice even involved an appeal from the president directly to the judge’s wife, Yara de Abreu Lewandowski.

Furthermore, the current minister, Flávio Dino, who hoped to resume his mandate in the Senate and be able to start assembling his future cabinet at the court, was summoned by Lula to guarantee the transition in the portfolio, since the executive secretary, Ricardo Cappelli, He decided to leave Brasília after seeing his desire to remain in office frustrated.

Talks about succession at the Ministry of Justice began in November, when Lewandowski embarked with Lula on an international tour, which began in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), passed through Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and ended in Berlin (Germany).

President of the board of the CNI (National Confederation of Industry), he even participated in a meeting of social organizations at COP 28, the United Nations Climate Conference, with members of the government.

But it was from Sunday night (7), when the former STF minister arrived in Brasília at Lula’s invitation, that the succession of Justice took shape.

A delay in the flight meant that a dinner between the two initially scheduled for Sunday was converted into breakfast on Monday (8) at Palácio da Alvorada — outside the official agenda. That day, Lula and Lewandowski participated in a ceremony at the National Congress in memory of the January 8 coup attacks.

According to the president’s allies, Lewandowski hinted at the possibility of accepting the invitation. But he said he faced resistance in his family. Since retiring from the Supreme Court, he returned to law and started working in the private sector, having worked as a consultant for the company J&F, owned by brothers Joesley and Wesley Batista.

During the negotiations, Lula even spoke directly on the phone with the retired minister’s wife. He appealed to her to support the mission he was about to entrust to his longtime ally and friend.

Right at the beginning of his speech at Lewandowski’s announcement, on Thursday (11) at Palácio do Planalto, Lula made a public recognition of Yara.

“I knew about his private activities [Lewandowski]. I know his family, I know his wife. I thought she would create difficulties, saying to him: ‘My love, let’s live our lives now, leave this politics thing behind,'” Lula said at the time.

“And thank God Yara had the understanding to say to Lewandowski: ‘I know you want to go, so go, my love’.”

The former STF minister also asked for freedom to choose the occupants of key positions in the department. Lewandowski’s demand was a barrier to Cappelli’s intentions, who with Dino’s support tried to remain as executive secretary.

When asked after the ceremony in Congress about the possibility of taking on the ministry, Lewandowski deflected and said that that was the R$1 million question.

Lewandowski’s positive response to Lula only came on Wednesday night (10), in another meeting at Palácio da Alvorada. This time, Dino also participated.

On that occasion, the Minister of Justice once again interceded for Cappelli and defended his continued position as the executive secretary, highlighting his subordinate’s role as public security intervener in the Federal District after January 8th.

Lewandowski then reiterated the need to have a name he trusts in the position. Lula agreed, which paved the way for Cappelli’s departure from the government.

The ceremony at Planalto in which Lewandowski was confirmed was relaxed, with Lula alongside Dino, the retired STF minister and the first lady, Janja. Nearby, however, the atmosphere at the Ministry of Justice headquarters was tense.

According to reports, on Wednesday night Cappelli even threatened to hand over the position without participating in the transition process in the department.

To make matters worse, on Thursday morning the dismissal of Diego Galdino, deputy executive secretary of Justice and Cappelli’s right-hand man, was published in the Official Gazette.

As Dino planned to resume his mandate in the Senate, the possibility of a transition without a minister, executive secretary or deputy executive secretary threatened to leave the department in a chaotic state during the handover.

Dino was then selected by Lula to ensure a smooth transition. Shortly before Lewandowski’s announcement, the Minister of Justice met with Cappelli and informed him of the president’s decision to rule out his continued position as executive secretary.

Cappelli then published a message on social media denying any request for resignation. “I did not resign. I will go on vacation with my family and return to collaborate with the transition in the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Union and Reconstruction,” he wrote.

The secretary’s intention is to stay out of the department until the end of the month. Lewandowski will take office on February 1st.

Flávio Dino then decided to remain in charge of the department in January, shortening the period he planned to stay in the Senate. He joins the STF on February 22.

The minister even gathered his secretariat and asked his assistants to maintain the pace of work. In his speech to employees, he argued that they all belong to the same government and that the change of ministers will not represent a discontinuity in management.

In parallel, the government canceled Galdino’s dismissal on Friday (12), so that he could be responsible for the executive secretariat during Cappelli’s absence.