Carnival Parade Honoring Lula Poses Risk of Electoral Conviction, Experts Say - Folha de S.Paulo

A samba school parade in Rio de Janeiro honoring President Lula may lead to a conviction in Brazil’s Electoral Court, according to experts. Although the samba theme song does not constitute early campaigning, there are passages at the edge of legality that could characterize abuse of power, resulting in ineligibility or loss of office.

The opposition filed a complaint with the Electoral Prosecutor’s Office alleging early campaigning and violation of the principle of equality among candidates in the October election. The theme includes passages such as "olé, olé, olá, Lula!", "love defeated fear," and a reference to the number 13, used by the president’s party on ballots.

Lawmakers from the Novo party questioned the R$1 million transferred to the school through funding from the state tourism company to the samba school league, to be equally distributed among the groups. The Federal Court of Accounts declined to suspend the transfer but accepted the complaint.

Experts are divided: some see problematic passages and risk of more explicit political demonstrations during the parade; others identify no illegality, since there is no explicit request for votes nor evidence of presidential interference in the choice of the theme.

The Presidential Communications Secretariat denied wrongdoing, said the funds are equal for all schools in the Special Group, and defended artistic autonomy. The Acadêmicos de Niterói samba school did not comment.