Brazil President Lula flashes middle finger at Palácio do Planalto ceremony

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva raised his middle finger during an official ceremony at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília on 3 July 2026. The gesture was made while countering a claim that “the poor don’t like good things”, with Lula declaring, “We like good things – food, clothing, travel, dentist, doctor – all first‑class. Here for them.”

He was promoting the Brazil Sorridente program, which will provide 3D‑scanned prosthetic devices to low‑income citizens. The event also featured announcements of government investments: ten new federal institute campuses (R$ 206.6 million), additional health initiatives, and the delivery of 900 homes as part of a national housing package.

Lula criticised wealthy people who claim they pay for premium health plans, arguing that the costs are deducted from income tax and therefore borne by all taxpayers. The obscene gesture sparked widespread media criticism and political debate, occurring just before the electoral‑advertising restrictions that start on 4 July, making it the last major public inauguration before the October elections.