Bolsonaro taps General Azevedo e Silva as defense minister

Brazil’s President-Elect Jair Bolsonaro announced on his social media the name of Army General Fernando Azevedo e Silva for the post of defense minister.

The position was originally meant to be assigned to General Augusto Heleno. A week ago, however, Bolsonaro confirmed the name of Augusto Heleno as head of the president’s Institutional Security Cabinet.

Azevedo e Silva was head of the General Staff of the Army and commandant of the Parachute Brigade before retiring. Today, he serves as adviser with the office of Supreme Court Chief Justice Dias Tóffoli.

Azevedo e Silva was head of the General Staff of the Army and commandant of the Parachute Brigade before retiring  - José Cruz/ABr

Schedule

The president-elect is in Brasília for two days of meetings with members of his future administration as well as authorities form the Legislative and Judiciary branches.

An engagement is also slated with Federal Deputy Tereza Cristina, future minister of Agriculture.

Hearings have also been scheduled with superior court justices: Rosa Weber (Electoral), João Batista Brito  Pereira (Labor), and José Coelho Ferreira (Military).

Bolsonaro is also expected to go to the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center (CCBB), where his government transition team is based.

Tomorrow (14), the president-elect should visit Congress. He confirmed he would “have coffee” with lower house speaker Rodrigo Maia, and “shake hands” with colleagues.