PRESIDENT Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil has announced a cabinet reshuffle that includes two ministers who previously supported his political rival, former President Jair Bolsonaro.
In this move, Andre Fufuca has been named as the new sports minister.
While Silvio Costa Filho will take on the role of ports and airports minister.
Both of these ministers had held significant positions in Bolsonaro’s far-right administration, which governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022.
The decision to appoint former Bolsonaro supporters to key positions is seen as a strategic effort by President Lula to garner support for his legislative agenda from influential lawmakers.
Lula has also expanded his cabinet by creating a new ministry dedicated to small- and medium-sized enterprises, increasing the total number of ministries from 37 to 38.
This reshuffle also solidified the entry of the party led by Arthur Lira, the Lower House Speaker who was a Bolsonaro supporter, into the cabinet.
The reshuffle follows negotiations between the government and central, a group of center-right parties known for their pragmatism and political maneuvering skills rather than strict ideological adherence.
A senior presidential official emphasized the importance of the reshuffle, stressing the need for their legislative agenda to advance as they cannot continue as they were.
Lula, who is currently serving his third term, is seeking congressional support to pass the 2024 budget and enact crucial tax reforms.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed ministers are expected to be sworn in once President Lula returns from the G20 meeting in India, according to a statement from the Brazilian government.
