Vitor Tavares

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court authorized a third investigation into Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, in less than a week. The inquiries concern alleged illicit dealings involving federal institutions, leaks of confidential investigative data, and suspected influence peddling linked to INSS fraud schemes and Dataprev contracts. Lulinha’s defense denies any direct or indirect wrongdoing and accuses parts of the Federal Police of selective leaks and political motives. President Lula says his son should face the law like anyone else. The report also traces earlier investigations into Lulinha’s business ties to Gamecorp and Oi/Telemar, both of which were eventually archived, and explains how the current allegations could provide political ammunition against Lula ahead of the 2026 election. Analysts describe Lulinha as a politically useful symbol for broader criticism of the Lula government, while cautioning that the impact on Lula’s reelection campaign is not automatic.

The Pernambuco gubernatorial race between incumbent Raquel Lyra and former Recife mayor João Campos has become intensely contested on social media. Lyra has sharply increased her Instagram following and engagement while improving in opinion polls, whereas Campos retains a larger, nationally recognized digital audience but has faced declining engagement and reputational damage after a controversial Recife public-prosecutor appointment. Both campaigns accuse the other side of operating coordinated networks involving fake profiles, bots and misinformation; the allegations are being taken to electoral authorities and courts, while the Federal Police has not confirmed an investigation. Analysts attribute Lyra’s rise partly to more effective, personal digital communication and public perception of government delivery, while Campos’s strategy has been affected by leaving the mayor’s office and losing a steady source of public exposure. The election remains unresolved, with the candidates technically tied in several polls.