Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday announced a final group of 16 members of his cabinet before his inauguration on June 1. including some allies outside Labor, including highlights the former environmentally conscious presidential candidate Marina Silva.
The latest appointments come after weeks of talks between left-wing allies and centrist parties expected to back the president-elect in Congress, where his left-wing coalition is in the minority.
Lula had previously announced 21 of the future ministers.
Alongside Marina Silva as Minister for the Environment, Lula shared that Senator Simone Tebet will be Minister for Planning and Budget.
Both backed the left leader for his narrow October 30 election victory over outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro.
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Silva, one of Brazil’s best-known environmentalists, previously held the same ministerial post for five years during Lula’s first term as president and was responsible for a significant reduction in deforestation.
Now he must face the same challenge, helping Lula fulfill a campaign promise after Amazon deforestation hit a 15-year high under Bolsonaro, who eased environmental protections during his tenure.
Tebet backed Lula after abandoning his own presidential bid when he failed to make the second round and helped him move closer to center stage by securing moderate votes.
Investors have welcomed his appointment as he has backed all of the major economic reforms passed by Congress in recent years.