PRIDE AND FALL: Brazil’s Lula Investigated by Electoral Court After Blatantly Illegal Tribute in Rio’s Carnival – His Statue Collapses, Is Dragged and Goes Viral (VIDEOS)
Lula may have finally gone too far even for his allies in the upper courts.
By now, no one is surprised by Brazilian socialist President Lula da Silva’s shameless self-aggrandizing, as by his use of illegal tactics to try to win yet another election in November.
But when a third-rate Samba school paraded in the Sambadrome with a ‘tribute’ lionizing him, and he had the gall of showing up to get all those photo-ops for a campaign that hadn’t even started, even most Supreme Court Justices were appalled by how illegal it all was.
The result, as one would expect, is that a flurry of legal action followed, arguing that the president committed electoral crime with early campaigning and a host of other illegalities.
It’s important to note that the Federal Government (i.e. Lula) gave R$1 million reals (about 200k USD) for the Samba School portraying him in the most favorable light.
It comes at a time when his usual bulletproof legal protection is faltering, and the Supreme Electoral Court was forced to open an investigation into him.
A carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro celebrating Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sparked political controversy after opposition parties filed lawsuits alleging it amounted to illegal early election campaigning https://t.co/3UPmlCXAcz pic.twitter.com/th4mWEbwDn
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 16, 2026
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro has sparked a political controversy: One samba school’s tribute to Brazilian President Lula da Silva angered the opposition, claiming the event was being turned into an illegal early election campaign. pic.twitter.com/7c0KhP52y6
— DW News (@dwnews) February 16, 2026
Intellinews reported:
“Brazil’s electoral court has opened an investigation into whether a lavish carnival parade celebrating President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva crossed the line into illegal early campaigning, transforming what began as a festive tribute at Rio de Janeiro’s famed Sambadrome into a full-blown political scandal.”
WATCH: Directors of Samba school make the electoral sign ‘L’ for Lula, maiking it clear it’s an electoral event.
CONFIRA: Apesar de proibição interna por ilícito eleitoral, cúpula da Acadêmicos de Niterói faz o “L” em desfile financiado com R$ 5,4 mi de verba pública; escola vai homenagear Lula no Carnaval. pic.twitter.com/bWSW86lo0V
— Boletim Verde e Amarelo (@boletimbr) February 3, 2026
“The show – featuring monumental floats, thousands of dancers and drums setting the rhythm with a display of lights, colors and choreography – was part of the Special Group parades that ran over three nights at the Sambadrome, the highlight of Brazil’s most emblematic festival.
The 80-year-old leftist president attended alongside Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, later descending to the Sambadrome floor to pose for photos as crowds sang his historic campaign jingle.
The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) is now examining whether the event constituted unlawful electioneering ahead of October’s presidential election, according to CNN Brazil.”
But the most viral moment took place right after the parade ended: a Lula statue dressed as president collapsed and fell from one of the floats to the ground, was lated dragged out and broke into many pieces. Predicting the future?
VEJA – Estátua de Lula cai de cima de caminhão da escola de samba que fez homenagem a ele pic.twitter.com/RDoq0gUBJR
— SPACE LIBERDADE (@NewsLiberdade) February 17, 2026
VEHA – Estátua de Lula cai de cima de caminhão da escola de samba que fez homenagem a ele pic.twitter.com/7nDp8Db1G3
— SPACE LIBERDADE (@NewsLiberdade) February 17, 2026
URGENTE: Boneco gigante de Lula é arrastado após desfile na Sapucaí é perde a cabeça. pic.twitter.com/3VPhtBsKK9
— Vista Pátria (@vista_patria) February 17, 2026
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