Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Evidence arising notably from Operation Sem Desconto leads the Federal Police to open several investigations targeting Fábio Luís Lula da Silva. One concerns suspected influence peddling and corruption involving medical cannabis projects at the Health Ministry; contacts with members of the presidential office are cited in requests for investigation.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Rising debt and difficulties stabilising the public accounts become a major focus of criticism of Lula's third administration. In August 2026, Congress adopts executive-backed spending control mechanisms amid concerns about the debt trajectory.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

Weeks before the presidential election, Lula signs a package cutting taxes on petrol and ethanol and increasing diesel subsidies. The cumulative cost of fuel support measures reaches tens of billions of reais. The following day, Petrobras cancels a previously announced petrol price increase, fuelling suspicions of political interference in prices.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

While Lula seeks to reposition Brazil as a climate leader, he supports the possibility of oil exploration in the environmentally sensitive Foz do Amazonas basin. Indigenous leader Raoni directly asks him to abandon the project because of its potential effects on communities and the environment.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

A major Federal Police–CGU operation exposes an alleged scheme involving unauthorised association deductions from retirement and pension payments. Lula dismisses INSS President Alessandro Stefanutto; Social Security Minister Carlos Lupi resigns a few days later under political pressure.

State of the evidence

Documented

Lula compares the Israeli offensive in Gaza to Hitler's extermination of Jewish people. Israel accuses him of trivialising the Holocaust, declares him persona non grata until he retracts his remarks and summons Brazil's ambassador; Brasília recalls its ambassador for consultations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

At a Volkswagen event, Lula assumes that a young Black woman might sing, play percussion ('batucar') or be somebody's girlfriend before learning that she is an award-winning apprentice. He says that 'a person of African descent like that likes batuque', prompting accusations of racial stereotyping.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

During the Rio Grande do Sul floods, Lula says he was surprised by the size of the state's Black population after seeing Black residents among those affected. The remark is criticised as revealing a blind spot and described by some as environmental racism.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

Asked about the lack of women and Black people in senior positions, Lula explains that historically lower political participation makes it 'more difficult' to find candidates for certain roles and refers to a smaller supply. The wording is criticised as paternalistic or discriminatory.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

Presenting aid measures for families affected by the Rio Grande do Sul floods, Lula describes a washing machine as a very important item 'for women', prompting criticism for associating domestic chores with women.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

Referring to a study showing increased domestic violence after football matches, Lula jokingly adds, 'if the guy supports Corinthians, it's fine'. Amnesty International, female politicians and even the PT's women's representative criticise the levity of the remark.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

The Petrobras board does not pay a much-anticipated extraordinary dividend. Reuters reports that the decision to retain these funds results from direct pressure by Lula in favour of greater investment. Shares fall by approximately 10% and market capitalisation declines sharply.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

The government pushes Jean Paul Prates out of the Petrobras presidency and proposes former regulator Magda Chambriard as his replacement. Markets react negatively amid fears of increased interference in pricing, dividends and investment.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

Lula publicly criticises interest rate levels and Central Bank president Roberto Campos Neto, whom he associates with his political predecessor. Campos Neto replies that such statements increase the risk premium and complicate monetary policy, while the real experiences significant volatility.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

In attempting to meet its budget target, Lula's government uses one-off revenues, accounting treatments and exceptional expenditure, prompting economists to warn of eroding credibility in the new fiscal framework.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

On returning to the presidency, Lula maintains that the United States and European allies should stop arming Ukraine, arguing that deliveries prolong the war. The White House then accuses him of repeating elements of Russian and Chinese propaganda.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

Lula states that Vladimir Putin would not be arrested if he attended the G20 summit in Brazil despite the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant. This assurance immediately sparks debate because Brazil is a party to the Rome Statute; Lula subsequently qualifies his position by referring the decision to judicial authorities.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

At the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Lula proposes a common currency for trade and investment to reduce vulnerability to the dollar. Several partners, notably India, are unenthusiastic and economists highlight major institutional obstacles.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Political responsibility

In Cape Verde, Lula declares that Brazil feels 'deep gratitude' towards the African continent for everything produced during 350 years of slavery. The wording is criticised as clumsy and offensive given the historical violence of slavery.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

Ahead of hip surgery, Lula jokes that the public will see him neither with a walking frame nor crutches and that he will appear 'always handsome'. Critics describe the remark as ableist.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

Lula becomes a defendant in late 2016 in a case alleging that Odebrecht acquired land intended for the Instituto Lula headquarters as an improper benefit. In 2021, the case is transferred to Brasília; the STF suspends proceedings and excludes evidence arising from Odebrecht's cooperation agreement.

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Proceedings accuse Lula of influence peddling, money laundering and participation in a criminal organisation in connection with fighter jet contracts and companies. In March 2022, Justice Ricardo Lewandowski suspends the case, citing evidence suggesting problematic coordination among prosecutors.

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Proceedings initiated in São Paulo concern donations by ARG to Instituto Lula while the company had interests in Equatorial Guinea. In 2022, the TRF-3 orders the proceedings halted, notably because evidence had been tainted by acts of Sergio Moro declared null and void.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Lula becomes a defendant in 2019 in a case involving Odebrecht's business activities in Angola. In September 2022, a federal court in Brasília halts the proceedings, the evidentiary basis having been severely affected by the invalidation of evidence linked to Moro's decisions.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Proceedings initiated in 2020 concern alleged money laundering through Odebrecht donations to Instituto Lula. The case is transferred to Brasília in 2021 and subsequently suspended by the STF.

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

An obstruction of justice allegation based on material associated with Delcídio do Amaral mentions Lula alongside Dilma Rousseff and Aloizio Mercadante. According to the judicial summary consulted, the allegation was not pursued in Brasília.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

During the 2022 campaign, Lula states that abortion should be treated as a public health matter and that women should be able to access it within the legal framework, prompting attacks from Jair Bolsonaro and religious groups. He subsequently clarifies that he is personally opposed to abortion.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

In an interview with TIME, Lula considers Volodymyr Zelensky 'as responsible' as Vladimir Putin for the war in Ukraine and maintains that the Ukrainian President could have negotiated more. The statement puts him at odds with the prevailing assessment of Western governments.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

Lula is convicted in the Atibaia country house case of corruption and money laundering linked to renovation work financed by OAS and Odebrecht on a property he frequented. The sentence reaches 17 years and one month at second instance. Following STF decisions, the case is sent to Brasília and then declared time-barred.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Lula is prosecuted for passive corruption, with the prosecution alleging that he favoured companies in the adoption of Provisional Measure 471 of 2009. He is acquitted in 2021, the judge finding that the investigation had not convincingly demonstrated his involvement.

Legal status — source text

Acquitted / conviction overturned

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Lula faces prosecution from October 2016, accused of receiving money from Odebrecht through a relative of his first wife. In 2020, the TRF-1 decides to halt the criminal proceedings.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Prosecutors accuse Lula of encouraging MTST activists to occupy the Guarujá triplex in a speech. The court dismisses the complaint.

Attribution

Accused

Lula and several political leaders become defendants accused of forming a criminal organisation to collect bribes. In 2019, the court acquits all five defendants, finding that the prosecution sought to criminalise political activity.

Legal status — source text

Acquitted / conviction overturned

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

A complaint targets Lula, his brother Frei Chico and Odebrecht executives concerning alleged monthly payments to the President's brother. The court dismisses the complaint for lack of evidence.

Attribution

Family member

In 2016, Lula becomes a defendant accused of participating in an attempt to buy the silence of former Petrobras director Nestor Cerveró. A federal court in Brasília acquits him in 2018, concluding that the evidence is insufficient.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Dilma Rousseff appoints Lula Chief of Staff of the Casa Civil while he is under investigation in Lava Jato. An intercepted conversation mentioning an appointment document 'in case of need' fuels allegations that the position was intended to remove him from first-instance jurisdiction; STF judge Gilmar Mendes suspends the appointment.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The mensalão scandal breaks in 2005, involving a payment system intended to secure parliamentary support for the government. PT leaders and José Dirceu, Lula's former Chief of Staff, are subsequently convicted by the STF. The scandal becomes one of the major crises of his first term.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Political responsibility

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Gamecorp, a small company established by Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, receives an investment of 5 million reais from Telemar. The matter becomes controversial when the government subsequently changes rules permitting the Telemar–Brasil Telecom merger. Investigations examine possible influence peddling and irregularities.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

At the very end of his second term, Lula refuses to extradite former Italian militant Cesare Battisti, convicted in Italy of four murders. The decision sparks a serious diplomatic dispute with Rome.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Explaining the global financial crisis, Lula says it was caused by 'white people with blue eyes' and that poor people, particularly Black and Indigenous populations, would bear the cost. The wording sparks international controversy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Personally implicated

The government payment card scandal prompts a parliamentary commission of inquiry following revelations of irregular expenditure within the administration. Lula defends the system while advocating secrecy for spending relating to his and his family's security; the governing majority is accused of shielding certain presidential statements.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Antonio Palocci, Finance Minister and close Lula ally, resigns amid allegations of secret commissions dating back to his time as mayor. His fall prolongs the integrity crisis affecting the first term.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Two men linked to the PT are arrested with approximately 1.7 million reais in cash intended to purchase a dossier against PSDB opponents. Several individuals associated with Lula's re-election campaign feature in the investigation; Lula calls them 'aloprados' and says he knew nothing about the operation.

State of the evidence

Documented

A video showing Waldomiro Diniz, deputy chief for parliamentary affairs in the presidency and an associate of José Dirceu, soliciting funds and offering political favours triggers the first major corruption crisis of Lula's government. Diniz immediately leaves office and investigations are opened.

State of the evidence

Documented