Brazilian President Lula gets image boost at Rio Carnival, but also faces legal risks

Описание: (16 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 15 February 2026
++STARTS ON SOUNDBITE++
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press:
“We’re here at Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, where Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is getting a tribute by this samba school, Academicos de Niteroi, who are portraying his life and showing how impressive it was from his early days in Brazil’s northeast, escaping poverty and becoming Brazil’s president.”
2. Academicos de Niteroi’s float with a sculpture of a boy holding a star
3. Academicos de Niteroi’s performers with shiny red costumes
4. Various of float with a robotic representation of Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
5. Performers wearing costumes that represents a university degree with common Brazilian names
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press:
“This tribute cause many concerns among legal specialists in Brazil's government, because this could mean early campaigning. Campaign that only beings six months from now. Members of Brazil’s opposition are also crying foul, saying this is not fine, but we’ll only find out once the court actually takes a look at this case later this year.”
7. Float with screens showing videos and pictures of Lula
8. Float with giant clown behind prison bars
9. Performers with costumes that resembles Disney’s Mickey Mouse and hats reading (English): “Make America great again”
10. Float with a giant sculpture of Lula next to the crowd
STORYLINE:
Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome hosted a glitzy parade Sunday evening celebrating Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a year he bids for his fourth inconsecutive term. However, his adversaries are crying foul and seeking legal action against the 80-year-old leader and the samba school, alleging the tribute kicked off his campaign six months in advance.

The parade by top samba school Academicos de Niteroi centered on Lula's trajectory from a childhood of poverty in Brazil’s northeast region to his current standing as one of Latin America’s most prominent leaders. Its floats, costumes and songs were nothing but praise to the president, whose poll numbers have been almost evenly split for months.

Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and their wives attended the parade despite risks pointed out by legal analysts about their presence, as it could trigger suits in Brazil's electoral court before and after the October election.

Tiago Martins, the parade's chief organizer, said that Academicos do Niteroi directors wanted to focus this year’s theme on the country’s northeast, as it was in 2025. They later decided that Lula’s story suited that purpose, despite the legal risks.

Martins said that Academicos do Niteroi executives traveled to Brasilia months in advance to present their vision to Lula, who accepted to receive the tribute.

Lula, first lady Rosângela da Silva and their guests watched it all from the Rio de Janeiro city hall box, alongside Mayor Eduardo Paes. Brazil's president wore a white suit and a hat with a blue stripe that is a reference to traditional Carnival revelers.

The veteran politician saw many revelers sing along Lula's historic campaign jingle, “ole, ole, ole, ola... Lula, Lula,” as part of an Academicos de Niteroi song. One of his team's fears — a massive boo from the stands — did not materialize even when he left the boxes to take pictures on the Sambadrome floor.



But never had such a Carnival tribute happened in a presidential election year and with an electoral court closely watching.









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