There were few surprises when President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finally announced the last names of his ministerial list on Monday, December 23. At the end, only six cabinet members—all of them of lesser importance—were chosen outside the PT (Workers' Party), Lula's own party. The cabinet comprises 26 ministries plus seven secretariats. Fourteen posts were offered to PT members and the rest to people with no party affiliation.
The President-elect created a few portfolios to add to the cabinet, including: Secretaria de Segurança Alimentar (Food Security Secretariat), Assistência Social (Social Welfare) and Ministério das Cidades (Cities Ministry). The new cabinet members will be sworn in with Lula when he is inaugurated on January 1st.
After announcing the complete list of his cabinet, Lula declared, "Everyone may believe that the people that have been called on may have defects, which is true of any human being. But the raw truth is that we've chosen, if not all, some of those who are going to give all of themselves for the better of this country."
The two top economic posts went to PT faithfuls. Antonio Palocci, a moderate PT aide, was chosen as Finance Minister. The post of Planning and Budget Minister—the position is being touted as a key and very powerful one— went to Guido Mantega, a university professor, and Lula's long-time economic advisor.
 Agrarian Development Miguel Rossetto (PT) vice-governor of Rio Grande do Sul |
 Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Roberto Rodrigues president of Abaq (Agribusiness Brazilian Association) |
 Central Bank Henrique Meirelles (PSDB) BankBoston's former director and House Representative- elect from Goiás |
 Chief of Staff (Casa Civil) José Dirceu (PT) reelected to Lower House of Congress |
 Cities Ministry Olívio Dutra (PT) ex-Governor of Rio Grande do Sul |
 Communication Secretariat Luiz Gushiken (PT) ex-president of São Paulo Bankers Union |
 Communications Miro Teixeira (PDT) House Representative from Rio de Janeiro |
 Culture Gilberto Gil (PV - Green Party) singer/composer from Bahia, a founder of Tropicalismo |
 Defense José Viegas Filho Brazilian ambassador in Russia |
 Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Luiz Fernando Furlan Chairman of the Board of Sadia, Brazil's largest producer of processed meat |
 Education Cristovam Buarque (PT) ex-governor of Brasília, the Federal District |
 Environment Marina Silva (PT) Senator reelected from Acre |
 Federal Inspector General's Office (Corregedoria Geral) Waldir Pires (PT) House of Representatives from Bahia |
 Finance Antonio Palocci (PT) medical doctor and ex-mayor of Ribeirão Preto |
 Food Safety Secretariat José Graziano da Silva coordinator of the Zero Hunger Program |
 Foreign Relations Celso Amorim Brazilian ambassador to the United Kingdom |
 General Secretariat of the Presidency Luiz Dulci (PT) general secretary of the PT |
 Health Humberto Costa (PT) defeated governor of Pernambuco candidate |
 Justice Márcio Thomaz Bastos criminal lawyer |
 Labor and Employment Jaques Wagner (PT) reelected to House of Representatives for Bahia |
 Mining and Energy Dilma Rousseff (PT) aide to governor Olívio Dutra from Rio Grande do Sul |
 National Integration Ciro Gomes (PPS) defeated presidential candidate |
 Planning, Budget and Management Guido Mantega (PT) Workers' Party's economic advisor |
 Press and Presidency Information Secretariat Ricardo Kotscho journalist and Lula's press aide |
 Science and Technology Roberto Amaral (PSB) vice-president of PSB (Brazilian Socialist Party) |
 Secretariat for Human Rights Nilmário Miranda (PT) House Representative, defeated as Minas Gerais governor candidate |
 Secretariat for Social and Economic Development Tarso Genro (PT) former-Mayor of Porto Alegre |
 Secretariat for Women's Rights Emilia Fernandes (PT) Senator from Rio Grande do Sul |
 Social Assistance (Assistência Social) Benedita da Silva(PT) governor of Rio de Janeiro |
 Sports Agnelo Queiroz (PC do B) House Representative from the Federal District |
 Tourism Walfrido Mares Guia (PTB) House Representative from Minas Gerais |
 Transportation Anderson Adauto (PL) elected to House of Representatives for Minas Gerais |
 Social Welfare (Previdência) Ricardo Berzoini (PT) Re-elected House Representative from São Paulo |