Brazilian Education Minister Abraham Weintraub Announces Resignation

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Thursday, June 18th, the Minister of Education, Abraham Weintraub, announced his resignation. The news was given on a video posted by Weintraub himself, in which the Minister is shown alongside President Jair Bolsonaro reading a farewell text. The name of his replacement has not been disclosed.

On Wednesday, G1 and GloboNews commentator Cristiana Lôbo reported that the government intends to appoint Weintraub to the World Bank in Washington, which the Minister confirmed in a statement. Brazil leads a group of nine countries in the World Bank and, as its largest shareholder, is entitled to nominate the group’s director.

“Yes, this time it is true. I’m leaving the Ministry of Education and I’m starting the transition now. In the coming days, I’ll pass the baton to the minister who will be taking my place, whether interim or definitive,” Weintraub says.

He declined to comment on the reasons for his resignation. “Right now, I don’t want to discuss the reasons for my resignation, it makes no sense. The main thing is to say that I have been invited to be a bank director. I’ve been a bank director in the past. I’m back in the same position, but in the World Bank”.

In the video, President Jair Bolsonaro tells Weintraub that the moment is “difficult” but “of confidence” and that the campaign commitments are maintained.

“It’s a difficult time, all my campaign commitments are still standing. I intend to implement them in the best possible way. You can’t buy trust, you earn it. Everyone who is listening to us now is of age, they know what Brazil is going through. And the moment is one of confidence. We will never stop fighting for freedom. I will do what the people want,” said Bolsonaro in the video.

Weintraub took office in April 2019, after Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez left, and remained in the post for 14 months. During the period, he amassed public disaffections and disputes with several social groups – including the Jewish community and China’s diplomatic representative in Brazil.

The most recent controversy arose after the release of the video of the April 22nd cabinet meeting held at the Planalto Palace. In the meeting with President Bolsonaro and other federal executive officials, Weintraub advocated the arrest of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Justices, whom he called “thugs”.

“We are losing the fight for freedom. That’s what the people are shouting. They’re not shouting for more state, for more projects, for more… the people are shouting for freedom, period. I think that’s what we’re losing, we’re really losing. The people want to see what brought me here. I’d throw all these thugs in jail. Starting at the STF,” he said.

The video was disclosed at the inquiry into alleged interference by President Jair Bolsonaro with the Federal Police. Reporting on this investigation, STF Justice Celso de Mello said he saw a potential crime of insult from Weintraub and therefore sent a letter to the other members of the Court.

Last Sunday, June 14th, Weintraub took part in anti-democratic and unconstitutional protests at the Ministries Esplanade in Brasília. He used the term “thugs” again, but this time he never stated who he was referring to.

Asked about taxes paid to finance “corrupt officials,” Weintraub told supporters: “I have already spoken my mind, what I would do with thugs”. The Minister was not wearing a protective mask at the protest, in violation of local rules, and was therefore fined R$2,000 by the local government.

On Monday morning, the G1 and TV Globo’s blogger Andréia Sadi had already reported on increased pressure from the government’s political wing, including military ministers, to replace Weintraub.

Court sources heard by the blog stated that he should be dismissed before Fabio Faria was sworn in on Wednesday, June 17th, since the heads of the other governmental branches, such as the STF and Congress, want to recognize the new Minister of Communications but classified it as “an embarrassment” to attend a federal government ceremony to honor the Executive, while Weintraub remains in charge of Education, with attacks on the other branches.

Fake News Inquiry

The insults recorded during the cabinet meeting led Weintraub to be included in another Supreme Court inquiry: the one investigating the spread of fake news and insults to STF justices and other authorities.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the investigation’s rapporteur, ordered Weintraub to be heard about the statement. A Federal Police team visited the Ministry’s headquarters to depose Weintraub, but the Minister exercised his constitutional right to remain silent.

The Minister of Justice, André Mendonça, petitioned the STF to exclude Weintraub from this inquiry. The writ of habeas corpus was put to a vote in the STF’s virtual plenary and was rejected on Wednesday by nine votes to one.

Weintraub vs. China

There is a further third inquiry at the STF in connection with Weintraub, one that investigates an alleged crime of racism committed against the Chinese population. The reporting justice, Celso de Mello, also subpoenaed the then Minister of Education to testify on this case – he visited the Federal Police headquarters and delivered a written statement as a deposition.

In early April, Weintraub hinted on social media that China could deliberately profit from the world crisis caused by the coronavirus. He later removed the text. Days later, Weintraub said he would apologize for his post if China committed to supplying Brazil with ventilators.

Source: G1