Former Chief of Staff for President Lula Admits to Loan from Businesswoman Under Investigation

Marco Aurélio Santana Ribeiro, known as Marcola, the former chief of staff for President Lula, has stated that he took a personal loan from businesswoman Roberta Luchsinger. Luchsinger is currently under investigation by the Federal Police (PF). Marcola, who left his position two weeks ago to join the president's campaign team, released a note stating that the loan has already been repaid and that he never engaged in any illegal activity during his official duties. His statement followed a report by the site Poder360, which claimed he received payments from Luchsinger and noted that the relationship was discussed among PT leadership during a party convention. The specific amount of the loan was not disclosed, and Luchsinger's defense stated they were unaware of the matter.

Roberta Luchsinger is a partner at RL Consultoria e Intermediações and a friend of the president's son, Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha. Luchsinger is linked to Operação Sem Desconto, an investigation into a scheme that allegedly defrauded INSS beneficiaries of over R$ 6 billion between 2019 and 2024. The PF previously identified Luchsinger as essential for money laundering and asset concealment, noting payments of R$ 1.5 million from a company linked to lobbyist Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes to one of her companies. Lulinha has denied any involvement in irregularities.

Separately, the PF has opened two inquiries regarding Lulinha. One concerns efforts to obtain approval for medicinal cannabis sales, and another investigates potential influence peddling at Dataprev to benefit a businessman. The PF has requested a third investigation into influence trafficking, which has been assigned to STF Minister Flávio Dino, a Lula appointee. In response to these developments, Flávio Bolsonaro of the PL party released a video questioning the source of the funds and attacking President Lula.