Parade that honored Lula generates political reactions and actions in the TSE: understand all the developments

5 meses ago

The parade that honored Lula at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro continues to have repercussions far beyond Ash Wednesday. The presentation by the Acadêmicos de Niterói samba school, dedicated to the trajectory of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, provoked statements from the Chief Executive himself, criticism from religious groups, demotion of the association and, above all, a series of legal representations that are now being processed in the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and in other instances. Next, see how each point fits into this plot that went beyond the limits of carnival.

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Parade that paid homage to Lula: summary of the plot and presentation

Acadêmicos de Niterói debuted in the Special Group of the Rio carnival, reporting, in its samba-plot, the life of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The itinerary began with his childhood in the Northeast, went through family migration to São Paulo, covered his period of work as a lathe operator, highlighted union leadership and reached the Presidency of the Republic. The school included floats, choreographed wings and costumes in the show that were intended to illustrate each stage of this narrative.

During the evolution in Marquês de Sapucaí, a wing called “preserved neoconservatives” satirized the resistance of religious segments to progressive agendas. This visual part caught the attention of representatives of evangelical currents, who expressed discontent on social media. Inside the track, Acadêmicos de Niterói's presentation received only two ten marks and, at the end of the counting, finished in last position, a condition that resulted in immediate relegation to the Access Group.

Lula's reaction to the parade that honored Lula

When asked by journalists about the repercussions of the parade that honored Lula, the president clarified that he did not participate in the creation of the plot. According to him, the artistic conception was the exclusive responsibility of the school. Lula also stated that he considers the musical composition more directed to the memory of his mother, Dona Lindu, than to her political figure. He also publicly thanked the association and said he wanted to meet them in person, confusing himself by mentioning a future visit to São Paulo — the headquarters of Acadêmicos de Niterói is in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro of the same name.

When asked about the response of evangelical groups to the satirical wing, Lula declared that he had no opinion because he was not the carnival artist, he did not write the lyrics nor did he follow the assembly of the floats. The Chief Executive limited himself to reaffirming his gratitude for the “wonderful music” that describes the trajectory of Dona Lindu and her children towards the Southeast.

Academics from Niterói and the result of the parade that honored Lula

The association founded in Niterói participated in the Special Group for the first time in 2024. Winning a place in the elite of Rio's carnival was being considered a historic feat within the city itself, which traditionally concentrates its schools in the Access Group. Even so, the group finished last, with low grades in aspects such as evolution, harmony and allegory. The score led to automatic demotion to 2025.

The relegation was celebrated by the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, who, on a social network, classified the presentation as a “horrible parade”. The demonstration reinforced the politicization surrounding the spectacle and generated a reaction from supporters of the school and supporters of the president.

Representations at the TSE about the parade that honored Lula

To date, four formal representations have been filed with the TSE questioning the parade that honored Lula. Two of them — from the Novo party and the Missão party — joined before the presentation, trying to prevent the event under the allegation of early electoral propaganda. The Court's plenary rejected requests for an injunction, arguing that prohibiting the passage would constitute prior censorship. The court, however, highlighted that specific facts that occurred on the avenue could be evaluated later.

After Carnival, new petitions arrived. The Missão party spoke out again, insisting on the thesis that the samba-enredo unduly promoted a possible pre-candidate for re-election. It requires, in addition to a fine, a ban on the use of images of the parade on social media and in pre-campaign activities. The Liberal Party (PL) asked for evidence to be brought forward, a measure that could serve as the basis for a future Judicial Electoral Investigation Action. The caption requests clarification regarding the parade's financiers, accommodation expenses for authorities and the show's airing time on open television, alleging possible abuse of political and economic power.

Parade that paid homage to Lula generates political reactions and actions in the TSE: understand all the developments - Article image

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Overview of the entities involved and next procedural steps

Several political and judicial entities participate in the debate. The TSE, currently commanded by Minister Cármen Lúcia, will have to report on the two new representations and decide whether there are elements to apply sanctions. The general inspector of Electoral Justice, Antônio Carlos Ferreira, received the request to collect evidence from the PL. In the parliamentary field, Senator Damares Alves presented a similar complaint to the Public Electoral Ministry, reinforcing the same suspicions.

Acadêmicos de Niterói, in turn, argues that the plot was limited to telling a relevant chapter in Brazil's recent history, a common practice during carnival. The school maintains that all financial resources followed standards already adopted in previous years and that no public body influenced the choice of the topic. The federal government confirms that it did not participate in the preparation of the samba-enredo and emphasizes that the funds allocated to samba schools are part of usual cultural incentive mechanisms.

The next steps are the responsibility of the TSE, which has no set deadline for judging the representations presented after the parade. These processes may result in fines, restrictions on the use of images or archiving, depending on the analysis of evidence and the interpretation of electoral legislation.

The judicial outcome of the parade that honored Lula will therefore depend on the examination of requested documents, such as sponsorship contracts, cost sheets and television viewing records, the collection of which was requested by the Liberal Party and is under evaluation by Minister Antônio Carlos Ferreira.