The Minister of Defense spoke in a private conversation with Rui Costa during the 1st ministerial meeting of 2026; team denies criticism of the Women’s portfolio
The Minister of Defense, , had an excerpt of a private conversation with the Minister of the Civil House, , recorded by the audio system this Tuesday (31 March 2026), during the 1st ministerial meeting of 2026. In the conversation, Múcio says that “did more than the entire Ministry of Women”.
The dialogue was captured shortly after Rui Costa’s presentation, before Dario Durigan’s speech. Upon hearing the statement, the minister reacted with laughter.
Múcio’s advisor stated that there was no criticism and that the speech took place after the presentation of the government’s balance sheet, which did not include Defense actions —“in which no achievement by the Ministry of Defense is mentioned”. According to the team, the comment reflected the assessment that the portfolio’s achievements over more than 3 years were left out of the compilation presented by Palácio do Planalto.
The minister’s team also stated that the mention of women was due to recent actions by the department. “The example in relation to women’s inclusion policies occurred due to the proximity of practical and concrete events”says the note.
Among the actions mentioned are the beginning of female voluntary military service, on March 2, with the incorporation of 1,467 18-year-old women into the Armed Forces, and the promotion of doctor Cláudia Lima to the rank of Army general, scheduled for April 1. According to the press office, another 9 women were promoted to general officers during the administration — 5 in the Navy and 4 in the Air Force.
Read the full note from Múcio’s advisor sent to Poder360:
“The context of Minister José Múcio Monteiro’s speech to Minister Rui Costa was right after reading the government’s financial statements, in which no achievements by the Ministry of Defense are mentioned. There are no complaints from the minister regarding the performance of the Ministry of Women. What happened was the observation of the absence of the countless achievements of the Ministry of Defense, over more than 3 years, in the compilation made by Palácio do Planalto.”
“The example in relation to women’s inclusion policies occurred due to the proximity of practical and concrete events. This Wednesday (April 1st) we will have the promotion of the 1st woman to general of the Army, doctor Cláudia Lima. And we had, on March 2nd, the beginning of female voluntary military service, with the entry of 1,467 18-year-old women into the Armed Forces.”
“There were also 9 other promotions of women to the rank of general officer during this administration, of which 5 in the Navy and 4 in the Air Force, in addition to doctor Cláudia Lima.”
