Lula da Silva is expected to announce the Defense Minister and the Armed Forces commanders next week

President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT, progressive-globalist) is expected to present the name of the future Defense Minister and the Army, Navy, and Air Force commanders next week.

The PT reportedly informed the decision to allies on Monday (Nov. 28).

With this, the transition workgroup in the area of defense will work differently than the others, reported Folha de S. Paulo.

The nominees should carry out the transition process together with the current government.

Earlier in the day, Lula da Silva met with the former minister of the Federal Audit Court (TCU) José Múcio Monteiro, the most popular name to command the Defense Ministry.

“The president chose not to make a group now. He will announce next week through the Minister of Defense and the three commanders of the Armed Forces, who will make the transition process,” the former minister told Folha.

Lula da Silva will likely choose a civilian to command the portfolio, as he did in previous terms.

Múcio was a TCU minister from 2009 to 2020, when he retired before the mandatory retirement age of 75.

At the time, he was 72 years old. He was also a federal deputy for almost 20 years.

In addition, he commanded the Secretariat of Institutional Relations, making political articulation in Lula’s government. Múcio’s eventual nomination is seen as a way to pacify the Armed Forces.

Last week, President Jair Bolsonaro (PL, right) met with the Navy, Air Force, and Army commanders.

During the meeting, the commanders would have signaled the possibility of Lula da Silva anticipating the nomination of the new commanders.

Bolsonaro would have agreed to sign the decree with the changes before the end of the year.