The president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, held this Monday a profound ministerial reform, with a change in the head of six portfolios, including those of Foreign Relations, Defense and Justice, as announced by the Ministry of Communications.

The changes began in the morning, with the resignation of the chancellor, Ernesto Araújo, under the fire of criticism for the failure of Brazil’s policy to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and it was expanded in the afternoon with unforeseen changes.

In total, the ministers ofErnesto Araújo (External relationships), Fernando Azevedo e Silva (Defending), André Mendonça (Justice), Luiz Eduardo Ramos (Secretary of Government), Walter Souza Braga Netto (Head of Cabinet) and José Levi (Attorney General).

Three of the ministers were transferred to other portfolios: Braga Netto will be in charge of Defense; Mendonça will be Attorney General; and Ramos will go to the Gabienete Headquarters. While Carlos Alberto Franco França will take the reins of Foreign Relations, Flávia Arruda will be in charge of the Government Secretariat and Anderson Torres will take Justice.

Thus, Ernesto Araújo, Fernando Azevedo e Silva and José Levi will leave the government.

The surprise departure of the Minister of Defense

Reserve general Fernando Azevedo e Silva, unexpectedly announced his resignation from his post as Defense Ministerhours after Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo informed President Jair Bolsonaro of his decision to leave his post.

The now former Minister of Defense of Brazil, Fernando Azevedo e Silva. EFE / Joédson Alves / Archive

The now former Minister of Defense of Brazil, Fernando Azevedo e Silva.

Added to that of General Eduardo Pazuello at the head of the Ministry of Health two weeks ago, This is the third casualty of a key member of the far-right government in the most acute phase of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I thank the President of the Republic, to whom I dedicated my total loyalty throughout these more than two years, for the opportunity to have served the country as Minister of State for Defense,” wrote Azevedo e Silva in a note released to the press.

“I leave with the certainty of the mission accomplished,” added the 67-year-old military man. without specifying whether it was a resignation or a dismissal.

Azevedo e Silva was part of the cabinet since Bolsonaro came to power in January 2019, and was one of eight ministers (out of 22) with military rank.

Both losses in the Government follow the replacement, on the 22nd, of General Eduardo Pazuello as Minister of Health, replaced by cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga amid an acceleration of the health crisis caused by COVID-19, which has already killed more than 312,000 people in the country.

The former Minister of Health of Brazil, Eduardo Pazuello. Photo: Europa Press

The former Minister of Health of Brazil, Eduardo Pazuello.

In the case of Pazuello, the third Minister of Health that the Bolsonaro government had since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country, his departure was the product of strong pressure from the more moderate right, critical of his erratic management of the health crisis, which is even under judicial investigation.

Chancellor’s resignation

The reasons for Araújo’s departure are similar, while the case of General Azevedo e Silva is unclear. Araújo’s resignation was confirmed by sources from the Government, Congress and his own office, But hours later Bolsonaro still did not say a word on the matter, either to confirm or deny the departure of the foreign minister..

Even so, the resignation of the Foreign Minister was called out by many parliamentarians, even from the official base, who accused Araújo of having created friction with important partners in Brazil, all of which would have hindered the country from accessing COVID-19 vaccines.

The departure of Araújo it was publicly required even by the head of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, and Senator Katia Abreu, president of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Upper House, who led a chorus made up of leaders of the two legislative chambers, both the opposition and the ruling party.

The malaise was based on criticisms of the foreign minister to China, the United States and India, after key countries in the international scene, important commercial partners of the country.

The now former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ernesto Araujo. Photo: REUTERS / Adriano Machado

The now former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ernesto Araujo.

In the case of China, Araújo had direct friction with the Beijing ambassador to Brazil after questioning the efficacy of vaccines made in that country and referring to the origin of the virus, detected for the first time in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The best positioned to fill the post left by Araújo are the ambassadors of the United States, Nestor Foster, and of France, Luis Fernando Serra. In recent days, the names of the Secretary of Communication, Admiral Flávio Rocha, and even the former president of Brazil Fernando Collor (1990-1992) have also been shuffled.

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