In a televised interview with Record on Sunday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said his eldest son, Fábio Luís Lula da Silva — known as Lulinha — must defend himself before the Federal Police (PF) and that nobody, including the president’s family, is above the law.
Allegations against Lulinha
Lula’s remarks came amid an investigation linking the lobista Roberta Luchsinger to alleged influence‑peddling in the federal government. According to the PF, Lulinha is an indirect beneficiary of Luchsinger’s actions, which involved seeking political contacts to facilitate the sale of a medication to the federal administration. Lula stressed that if his son committed any wrongdoing, he would have to prove his innocence, face judgment and accept any penalty or acquittal that follows.
Payments to ex‑chief of staff
The investigation also examined former chief of staff Marco Aurélio Ribeiro, widely known by his nickname Marcola. Folha de S.Paulo reported that Luchsinger paid R$ 249 000 to Marcola, which he described as a personal loan already repaid. Separately, the newspaper revealed that Luchsinger spent R$ 217 000 on Marcola’s credit‑card bills, vehicle financing and other expenses while negotiating with the government. Marcola denied receiving any payment and said he did not proceed with a contract draft sent by the lobista.
Lula’s communication style and staff
Lula noted that he does not use a personal cellphone, relying on aides such as Marcola to relay calls. He said Marcola had enjoyed his confidence and occasionally intermediated telephone conversations before leaving the Planalto in June to join the president’s re‑election campaign. Marcola stepped down from the chief‑of‑staff role after the PF investigation became public.
Political context and PF independence
Lula used the opportunity to contrast his administration with that of former president Jair Bolsonaro, accusing the latter of allegedly interfering with investigations to protect his own sons, including Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. He asserted that the PF remains independent under his government and that investigators must be allowed to work without threats of ministerial dismissals or punishment of delegates. “Investigue‑se. E todo mundo tem o direito de provar se é inocente,” Lula said, adding that anyone found innocent would be forgiven.
The president’s comments are part of a broader PT effort to portray the Federal Police as autonomous under his leadership, a direct rebuttal to accusations of interference during the Bolsonaro era. With the October general election approaching, the Lulinha case has become a flashpoint in the debate over accountability and the rule of law in Brazil. The remarks were drawn from the president’s televised interview and corroborated by Folha de S.Paulo reporting.