TSE investigates Lula and Alckmin over Carnival parade funding

TSE Lula Geraldo Alckmin Partido Novo Carnaval

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has accepted a lawsuit filed by the Novo party against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin. The legal action investigates alleged abuse of economic power and the misuse of communication media during the 2026 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

The complaint centers on a parade by the samba school Acadêmicos de Niterói, which featured a theme dedicated to Lula’s personal and political history. According to the lawsuit, the parade was funded by R$ 9.65 million in public resources provided by the municipalities of Niterói and Rio de Janeiro, the state government of Rio de Janeiro, and the Brazilian Tourism Promotion Agency (Embratur).

Novo argues that these funds were allocated after the school publicly announced its tribute to Lula, who was then a pre-candidate for reelection. The TSE Corregedor-Geral, Minister Antônio Carlos Ferreira, ruled that the allegations could, in theory, characterize the reported irregularities. Lula and Alckmin have been summoned to present their defense within five days. If the allegations are proven, the candidates could face the revocation of their registrations and an eight-year period of ineligibility.

Entities

Acadêmicos de Niterói · Geraldo Alckmin · Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva · Lula · Partido Novo · Tribunal Superior Eleitoral

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] The lawsuit seeks the revocation of candidate registrations and an eight-year period of ineligibility for Lula and Alckmin. www.estadao.com.br · cbn.globo.com · mahoje.com.br · ndmais.com.br
[● 8 SOURCES] The Acadêmicos de Niterói parade received R$ 9.65 million in public funds. www.estadao.com.br · www.gazetaweb.com · cbn.globo.com · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · +3 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Lula and Alckmin have five days to present their defense. www.estadao.com.br · cbn.globo.com · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · www.dgabc.com.br · +2 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Funding for the parade came from the municipalities of Niterói and Rio de Janeiro, the state government, and Embratur. www.estadao.com.br · www.gazetaweb.com · cbn.globo.com · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The Novo party filed a lawsuit alleging abuse of economic power and misuse of communication media. www.estadao.com.br · www.gazetaweb.com · cbn.globo.com · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] TSE Corregedor-Geral Antônio Carlos Ferreira ruled that the facts could, in theory, characterize the alleged irregularities. www.estadao.com.br · www.gazetaweb.com · cbn.globo.com · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · +3 more