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On Monday (12/12), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his future vice-president Geraldo Alckmin received their diplomas in a graduation ceremony at the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). In addition to this event, other steps for the preparation of the future government are also taking place. For instance, the Transition Team is advancing on its works and the first names future ministers are being announced.
The Graduation
Graduation is the step that confirms the electoral process and enables Lula and Alckmin to take office as President and Vice President of the Republic on January 1st. It represents the moment when the Judiciary attests that the candidates were legitimately elected by the people.
In addition, it is a legal requirement for inauguration and marks the end of the electoral process, since the TSE has already evaluated all stages of the election, including any appeals against candidates and the results of the polls. To receive the diploma, those elected need to have their candidacy record approved and their campaign accounts reviewed.
The deadline for graduation is December 19, but, at the request of Lula’s team, the TSE scheduled the ceremony for a week earlier. According to media sources, the initiative was motivated by the sociopolitical instability sparked by a monthlong series of protests against Lula’s election and in favor of a military coup promoted by President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters.
Future Ministers
The newly elected government has finally started to announce the professionals chosen to lead the ministries. The first change in the structure was announced by the future Chief of Staff of the Lula government, Rui Costa. On Monday (12/12), he said that the team of the future government is considering having about 35 ministries. A total of 12 more ministries than the Bolsonaro’s government.
- Former Minister of Education and former mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad will lead the new Ministry of Finance. The ministry will be the result of the dismemberment of the current Ministry of Economy. Haddad was not well regarded by the financial market, which sees him as unprepared and a political choice. For analysts, his main challenges will be to win the trust of the market and establish quality communication with economic agents
- Former governor of Maranhão and senator elected by the same state, Flávio Dino will assume the new Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Dino was once a federal judge, federal deputy
- Former president of the Federal Court of Auditors and former chief minister of the Institutional Relations Secretariat, José Múcio Monteiro was chosen to head the Defense, a ministry to which the Army, Navy and Air Force are linked. He is considered a name with good relation among the military, an important factor due to the wide support of the Armed Forces to Bolsonaro and the rejection of Lula
- Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, current Brazilian ambassador to Croatia and former ambassador to Argentina and the United States, Mauro Vieira was chosen to lead the Itamaraty again
- The singer Margareth Menezes accepted the invitation to take over the future Ministry of Culture, to be recreated during his administration
- Former Minister of Labour and former union leader Luiz Marinho was selected to become the future Labour Minister
