Francisco Waldir Pires de Souza (21 October 1926 – 22 June 2018) was a Brazilian politician. He served as the

Minister of Defence A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...

under President

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (; born Luiz Inácio da Silva; 27 October 1945), known mononymously as Lula, is a Brazilian politician, trade unionist, and former metalworker who is the president-elect of Brazil. A member of the Workers' Party ...

,List of Historical Brazilian Minister of Defence from the official Defence Ministry Website
(in Portuguese) before being fired for gross incompetence and inaction during Brazil's aviation crisis of 2006–2007.Brazil's defence minister fired

BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...

, 25 July 2007. At the time of the crisis, he was accused by some in Brazil of nearing senility. He was replaced by former Supreme Court President

Nelson Jobim Nelson Azevedo Jobim (born in Santa Maria, RS, 12 April 1946) is a Brazilian jurist, politician and businessman. He held the positions as congressman, Minister of Justice, Minister of Defense, Minister of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), where ...

. He presided over the Brazilian Mission to Haiti.

References

1926 births 2018 deaths Governors of Bahia Defence ministers of Brazil {{Brazil-politician-stub Candidates for Vice President of Brazil