STF Ministers Likely to Keep Investigations into President Lula's Son in Supreme Court

Supreme Court ministers André Mendonça and Flávio Dino are expected to keep investigations into Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, within the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF). This trend contradicts a recent request from the Procuradoria Geral da República (PGR) to move the cases to a lower court, as the PGR argues that none of the investigated parties hold the privileged forum status required for STF jurisdiction. If the cases remain, the PGR is expected to file an appeal to challenge the decision.

The investigations involve three separate inquiries, some of which are under seal, regarding allegations of influence peddling. A Federal Police (PF) report indicates that Lulinha, along with businesspeople Roberta Luchsinger and Fernando Bittar, may have exceeded ethical and legal limits in their lobbying activities. The PF suggests the group operated as an informal society to facilitate public contracts and legislative changes for private interests, potentially using privileged personal relationships to access the Ministry of Health and the presidential office.

Defense representatives for Lulinha deny any direct or indirect relationship with businesses developed by Roberta Luchsinger. Luchsinger's defense also stated she never transferred any funds to Lulinha. While the PF points to messages suggesting a coordinated structure, the PGR has stated that there are currently no elements to conclude that these attempts to influence the government actually resulted in closed business deals.