Lula launches ministerial reform, dismisses Nísia from the Ministry of Health and appoints Padilha

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has begun his cabinet reform by making the first change in his government. The Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade , will leave her post on Tuesday, the 25th. The Minister of the Secretariat for Institutional Relations (SRI), Alexandre Padilha, will take over the post.

With Padilha's move from the SRI, which was located in the Planalto Palace, Lula opens space for a new change precisely in the area that deals with the relationship with the National Congress. Padilha was the target of attacks from some deputies and even clashed with former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira (PP-AL).

On Tuesday morning, Nísia signed her final acts as minister in a ceremony at Planalto Palace attended by Lula . She signed executive orders regarding vaccine production in a ceremony marked by embarrassment. Nísia gave a long speech, in a farewell tone, and greeted several members of her team.

At the end of the ceremony, held in the East Hall of the Planalto Palace, a reporter asked: "President, are you going to make changes in the Ministry?" Lula was surprised by the question, there was silence in the East Hall, but he did not respond.

Lula met with Nísia this afternoon and then met with Padilha. The new minister is 53 years old, was elected federal deputy for the PT in São Paulo and is a doctor. He was previously Minister of Health during Dilma Rousseff's administration.