Orlando Silva, Lula’s ally, says Lewandowski’s appointment was a “political error”

Federal deputy Orlando Silva (PCdoB-SP) stated this Thursday (11) that the appointment of retired minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Ricardo Lewandowski to command the Ministry of Justice and Public Security was “a political error”. An ally of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), the parliamentarian defended the performance of the executive secretary, Ricardo Cappelli, tipped to take over the portfolio before Lewandowski’s confirmation.

Cappelli was the right-hand man of minister Flávio Dino, who will leave the ministry to take up a seat in the Supreme Court. Lewandowski only accepted the role after ensuring he could choose his own team, including the “number 2”. Well-liked by the government, he will be left out of the new composition of the ministry.

This morning, the executive secretary informed that he will take vacation in the next few weeks and will return to Brasília just to work on the transition of the new team. “I didn’t resign. I’m going on vacation with my family and returning to collaborate with the transition at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Union and Reconstruction”, he said on the social network X.

Orlando Silva shared Cappelli’s message and regretted that the secretary was not valued. “Proud of you! Brazil discovered a capable, courageous political leader. I’m happy because I know you have a feeling of accomplishment. I’m sad to see that we haven’t learned to value the most capable or to deal with issues such as public safety. Today we are witnessing a political error!” he said the deputy.

Cappelli’s future in the Lula government is still uncertain. He gained prominence when acting as an intervener in public security in the Federal District after the acts of January 8th. Furthermore, between April and May 2023, he temporarily assumed command of the Institutional Security Office (GSI) of the Presidency of the Republic, after the press released images showing the GSI minister, General Gonçalves Dias, inside the Palácio do Planalto on the day of the acts of vandalism.