Brazil President Lula decries election law restrictions as ‘papagaiada desgraçada’

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized Brazil's electoral “defeso” period, which bars public officials from inaugurating works in the weeks before the October elections. Calling the rule a “papagaiada desgraçada,” he said he can still visit sites but not speak at openings. He made the remarks while inaugurating the Major Sales Tunnel in Luís Gomes, Rio Grande do Norte, and reiterated the point during a tour of Bahia and Ceará that included the launch of the Desenrola program and the Plano Safra for agriculture.

In Ceará, Lula urged gubernatorial candidate Elmano de Freitas to keep the campaign clean and warned against negative tactics, indirectly referencing rival politician Ciro Gomes. He told supporters to focus on concrete achievements rather than “theory” and to avoid “jogo rasteiro.”

Separately, Lula expressed irritation at former Contagem mayor Marília Campos for refusing to run for governor of Minas Gerais, leaving the PT without a clear candidate for the state. The party continues to debate its internal nomination strategy as the election cycle accelerates.