Lula Denies Knowing Lobbyist Under Investigation as Photos Surface
4 sources · Brazil
Who reported this
- CNN Brasil
- Folha de S.Paulo
- Estadao
- Gazeta do Povo
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- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated during an interview with Jornal Nacional that he does not know and has never been near lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger. However, multiple reports highlight that Luchsinger has posted several photos with the president on her Instagram account from 2022 and 2023. Following the president's denial, political opponents including Flávio Bolsonaro and Romeu Zema shared these images on social media to accuse the president of lying.
Luchsinger is currently under investigation by the Federal Police for suspected influence peddling. Investigators are examining whether she maintained a hidden partnership with the president's son, Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, and Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, referred to as Careca do INSS, to secure government contracts. Specifically, the Federal Police are investigating attempts to sell dengue test kits and cannabidiol based products to the Ministry of Health. These efforts allegedly involved Marco Aurélio Ribeiro, Lula's former chief of staff, who is also under investigation. The Federal Police suspect Luchsinger paid personal expenses for Ribeiro to facilitate these deals.
During the interview, Lula referred to Luchsinger as a pilantra, or crook, and dismissed the evidence against his son as inferences drawn from phone conversations. He stated that Lulinha would be investigated like any other citizen and expressed confidence in his innocence. Reports indicate that Lula's own campaign staff were surprised by his spontaneous use of the term pilantra and viewed his absolute denial of knowing Luchsinger as a mistake given the existing photographic evidence.
Defense attorneys for Marco Aurélio Ribeiro have denied that he ever intermediated government purchases and claimed that selective leaks of the investigation are intended to distort facts and interfere with the electoral process. Luchsinger has admitted to introducing Lulinha to Antunes but has denied making payments to the president's son.
How each side framed it
- Centre
- These outlets focused on the factual contradictions between Lula's statements and the photos, while also detailing the specific legal allegations regarding the dengue kits.
- Centre-right
- These outlets emphasized the contradiction as evidence of Lula's dishonesty and highlighted the reactions of political opponents.
Sources
- Centre CNN Brasil: Lula on Lulinha: These are inferences taken from conversations with a “crook” lobbyist
- Centre CNN Brasil: Flávio publishes photos of Lula with lobbyist after president denies knowing her
- Centre-right Estadao: Lula said that lobbyist was never by his side, but Roberta posted photos with president
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Use of the term 'pilantra' to refer to lobbyist surprised Lula's campaign
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Lobbyist dealt with Lula's former chief of staff about attempt to accelerate purchase of dengue kits, says PF
- Centre Folha de S.Paulo: Lobbyist has photos alongside Lula and contradicts what president told JN
- Centre-right Gazeta do Povo: Lula says he does not know Roberta Luchsinger, but photos show the two together
100% of the statements in this article were traced back to the source articles listed above.