Reuters: Temer wants Velloso in Justice and Beltrame in Public Security.

By Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA (Reuters) - President Michel Temer is studying scenarios to strengthen the National Public Security Secretariat, currently within the Ministry of Justice, and plans to hand the position over to former Supreme Court Justice Carlos Velloso, but place security in the hands of former Rio de Janeiro Security Secretary José Mariano Beltrame, palace sources told Reuters.

It is not yet defined whether the secretariat would remain part of the Ministry of Justice, become independent, or even become a new ministry.

According to one source, "everything is still on the table." Another aide close to the president, however, believes that it is most likely that Senasp will remain where it is because there is no room in the budget to create a new structure.

Temer has not yet made a decision on the model to be adopted, but the names are already in the president's mind. Carlos Velloso is practically guaranteed to head the Ministry of Justice.

"He's the strongest name today. A scenario is emerging in which Velloso would come to support the president in the Supreme Court on institutional matters," said one of the sources. "What we have today is Velloso and Beltrame as a strong secretary, accustomed to dealing with these issues."

Beltrame was reportedly approached by an emissary of Temer and responded well to the idea, but there has not yet been a formal invitation, sources said. Velloso, who met with Temer personally on Tuesday afternoon, made it clear that he would be willing, especially if he did not have to deal with issues such as security in the states and prison policy.

The invitations have not yet been formally extended and depend on Temer's decision regarding the new structure of the area.

However, one source predicts that the situation will be resolved early next week. With former Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes' confirmation hearing scheduled for next Tuesday, the expectation in the Presidential Palace is that his nomination to the Supreme Court will be considered on Wednesday.

"With this, the inauguration of the new minister and secretary could take place on Thursday of next week," said one of the sources.

Temer maintained the statement he made a week ago, that his choice for the Justice Ministry would be a personal one. This Wednesday, he repeated it on Twitter. Despite pressure from his party, the PMDB, which wanted the ministry for its representatives in the Chamber of Deputies and nominated Congressman Rodrigo Pacheco, the president resisted.

He repeatedly told associates that he "couldn't make a mistake" in choosing the Minister of Justice. Close aides believe that the nomination of Moraes to the Supreme Court and the appointment of Moreira Franco as minister had squandered what little support the government had with public opinion, which was already suspicious that the Presidential Palace wanted to somehow obstruct corruption investigations.

This time, one source assessed, there is no room for political surprises.