Brazil's Attorney General Jorge Messias on Sunday called on members of a WhatsApp group named "Lula's Army" to attend demonstrations in Rio de Janeiro, using language that mimicked a military mobilization order.
In a post on X, Messias addressed "soldiers, officers and other members" of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's supporters, directing them to gather at the Candelária church and Copacabana beach. The message appeared designed to resemble an official military directive.
Political context
The move comes as Messias seeks a second opportunity to join Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF). On April 29, 2026, the Senate rejected his nomination by a 47–31 vote, marking the first time since 1894 that the upper house has turned down a presidential nominee for the nation's highest court.
In May, Lula stated he would renominate Messias if he wins a fourth presidential term in the 2026 election. The president's current term ends in 2027; a victory would give him a second consecutive term and a fourth overall, having previously served from 2003 to 2010.
Institutional implications
The attorney general's direct political mobilization through a group styled as "Lula's Army" blurs the line between his role as the federal government's chief legal adviser and partisan activity. The AGU (Advocacia-Geral da União) represents the federal government in legal matters and is expected to maintain institutional neutrality.
Messias, a longtime Lula ally, served as the president's personal lawyer before assuming the AGU post in 2023. His failed Supreme Court nomination was seen as a significant defeat for the administration, exposing fractures in the governing coalition's Senate support.
The October 18 call for street demonstrations signals an effort to maintain pressure on senators and demonstrate grassroots backing ahead of a potential renomination.