Brazil’s Lula gets image boost at Rio Carnival, but also faces legal risks
Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome hosted a glitzy parade on Sunday evening celebrating Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a year he bids for his fourth inconsecutive term. However, his adversaries are crying foul and seeking legal action against the 80-year-old leader and the samba school, alleging the tribute kicked off his campaign six months in advance.
The parade by top samba school Academicos de Niteroi centered on Lula’s trajectory from a childhood of poverty in Brazil’s northeast region to his current standing as one of Latin America’s most prominent leaders. Its floats, costumes and songs were nothing but praise to the president, whose poll numbers have been almost evenly split for months.
Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and their wives attended the parade despite risks pointed out by legal analysts about their presence, as it could trigger suits in Brazil’s electoral court before and after the October election. Tiago Martins, the parade’s chief organiser, said that Academicos do Niteroi directors wanted to focus this year’s theme on the country’s northeast, as it was in 2025. They later decided that Lula’s story suited that purpose, despite the legal risks.
“Lula deserves a tribute like this, just like any other Brazilian who does a lot for our people,” Martins told The Associated Press as preparations unfolded in Niteroi, a city outside Rio. He denied that the samba schools’ lyrics, floats or costumes were intended as campaign material. Martins said that Academicos do Niteroi executives traveled to Brasilia months in advance to present their vision to Lula, who accepted to receive the tribute.
Lula, first lady Rosangela da Silva and their guests watched it all from the Rio de Janeiro city hall box, alongside Mayor Eduardo Paes. Brazil’s president wore a white suit and a hat with a blue stripe that is a reference to traditional Carnival revelers. The veteran politician saw many revelers sing along Lula’s historic campaign jingle, “ole, ole, ole, ola... Lula, Lula,” as part of an Academicos de Niteroi song.
One of his team’s fears — a massive boo from the stands — did not materialize even when he left the boxes to take pictures on the Sambadrome floor. Joao Santana, Lula’s campaign manager in his 2006 bid for reelection, does not foresee any electoral gains from the tribute. He noted the Brazilian president could actually alienate some moderate and evangelical voters who reject the connection between Carnival and politics.
Santana also agrees Lula is facing unnecessary legal risks. “The president and the first lady have dangerously approached this parade,” Santana said in a video published Thursday. “This could all backfire.” There could be fines’. It is not the first time Carnival parades have honored Lula, as progressives like him comprise the majority celebrating the bash. In 2003, his first year as president, the prominent samba school Beija Flor featured a float depicting him as a courageous politician fighting hunger.
Nine years later, the Sao Paulo-based samba school Gavioes da Fiel also centered its parade on Lula. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attending the Academicos de Niteroi samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro.
