Bolsonaro's Reshuffle Removes Key Allies As Pressure Grows Over COVID

The significant reshuffle enacted yesterday by President Jair Bolsonaro leaves him with fewer close allies in his Cabinet, but may reduce some of the pressure on him personally as public anger grows over spiraling COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• Yesterday Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo tendered his resignation. Araujo was a close ally of Bolsonaro and had served as foreign minister since the president came into office. However, he came in for criticism for perceived slowness in securing vaccine doses, and was viewed as something of a liability in relations with the US given his vocal support for former President Trump.
  • The reshuffle sees Araujo replaced by diplomat Carlos Alberto Franco Franca.
  • Defence Minister General Fernando Azevedo e Silva is replaced by Chief of Staff of the Presidency General Walter Souza Braga Netto
  • Secretary of the Government General Luiz Eduardo Ramos replaces Braga Netto as Chief of Staff.
  • Federal Representative Flavia Arruda will replace Ramos as Secretary of the Government.
  • Advocate General of the Union Jose Levi is replaced by Minister of Justice and Public Security Andre Mendonca, who in turn is replaced by Distrito Federal Public Safety Secretary Anderson Torres.
• The removal of the ideologue Araujo and promotion of Arruda, from the Liberal Party, hints at attempts by Bolsonaro to improve relations with the Centrao bloc in Congress, a group of centre-right parties that support Bolsonaro's gov't in an uneasy confidence-and-supply agreement.