Fábio Luís Lula da Silva Under Investigation for Influence Peddling

Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, the eldest son of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is the subject of three inquiries in the Supreme Federal Court (STF) investigating suspicions of corruption and influence peddling. The investigations, authorized in late July, focus on whether he used his position to benefit companies seeking contracts with the federal government. One inquiry examines a potential scheme to sell cannabis medicinal products to the Ministry of Health, while another investigates efforts to benefit an information technology company, 3Structure It LTDA, through Dataprev. A third inquiry is also active under the relatorship of Minister Flávio Dino.

The investigations emerged from Operation Sem Desconto, which probes illegal deductions from INSS retirement benefits. Federal Police reports indicate that Lulinha had a close relationship with lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger and businessman Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, known as Careca do INSS. Evidence cited includes messages from Luchsinger suggesting she represented Lulinha and a trip to Portugal shared by Lulinha and Antunes. The defense for Lulinha denies any wrongdoing, stating the Portugal trip was for legitimate business and that he had no knowledge of the INSS fraud scheme.

President Lula has met with Lulinha's lawyer, Marco Aurélio de Carvalho, and former minister Fernando Haddad. During this meeting, the president reportedly instructed his son to make himself available to authorities to provide explanations, while emphasizing that he would not interfere with the Federal Police. The defense has complained about leaks from the Federal Police and has sought the archiving of the inquiries. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) has requested that the cases be moved from the STF to a lower court, arguing that Lulinha does not hold a position that grants him privileged forum.

Political tensions have escalated as opposition lawmakers have requested a Mixed Parliamentary Inquiry Committee (CPMI) to further investigate Lulinha's alleged influence in the executive branch. Additionally, presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro has publicly called for Lulinha and the president to provide explanations, linking the situation to broader discussions of corruption during the election cycle.