The new Minister of Education of Brazil is Colombian

[Akrapovic]

Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez, philosopher and professor, will occupy that strategic position in the far-right government of Jair Bolsonaro. The Bogotano was chosen over the Brazilian Mozart Ramos.

Jair Bolsonaro, president-elect of Brazil, appointed Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez, a Colombian philosopher, to be the new education minister of his government. The charge is essential if one takes into account that campaign Bolsonaro criticized for example the way sex education is taught and has supported a kind of gag law that would prevent teachers promote "ideologies" in the classroom.

Vélez Rodríguez is based in the neighboring country since 1979 and now, from January 1, 2019, will occupy a place in the Plaza de la Meseta, the presidential residence of the Latin American country.

The Colombian is professor emeritus of the School of Command and General Staff of the Army. His career is immersed in the academic field and he is the author of around 30 works, according to Bolsonaro in his Twitter account.

Vélez Rodríguez finished his undergraduate degree in philosophy at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. In addition, he holds a master's degree in Brazilian Thought from the Pontifical Catholic University and a PhD in Luso-Brazilian Thought from Gama Filho University, both located in Rio de Janeiro.

Ad portas to take office as minister, the Bogota said his task will be "to put the basic and fundamental education system at the service of people and not as a bureaucratic option on the interests of citizens, to perpetuate a caste that was framed in power "

The appointment of Vélez Rodríguez comes after a controversial confusion about the position. At first the Brazilian media reported that the doctor in chemistry Mozart Ramos would be part of the ministerial key ring. However, his name generated controversy within the religious community, an important bastion in the political life of Bolsonaro.

Before the dissatisfaction of the evangelical bloc, Bolsonaro turned his election towards Vélez Rodríguez, who this morning assured that Bolsonaro is not a radical person. "The press has baptized Bolsonaro as a right-wing politician, but he is not, he is a conservative politician," he said in an interview on Blu Radio.