STORY: When Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva learned that a samba school in Rio de Janeiro would base its carnival parade this year on his journey from factory worker to president, he broke into tears and then smiled for pictures holding the school's flag.

But, as Rio's world‑famous carnival parade approached, the tribute became a political headache.

Opposition parties and politicians have filed a flurry of lawsuits alleging that Lula is benefiting from what they describe as an illegal form of early campaigning ahead of this year's presidential election. The president hopes to be elected for his fourth nonconsecutive term in October.

Courts have already rejected all but one of the lawsuits, including one that asked judges to stop the parade from taking place. But more could be filed if critics believe politicians used the event, scheduled to happen on Sunday (February 15) night, to ask for votes, which would be illegal.

Still, Lula is planning to watch samba school Academicos de Niteroi sing and dance to his and his mother’s life stories on Sunday in Rio, his aides told Reuters, but he won't be speaking at any moment.

“It’s not campaigning,” said Tiago Martins, a carnival parade designer at Academicos de Niteroi. “It’s a plot that tells the life story of a warrior of a man, who despite all obstacles got to the presidency.”

The parade designed by Academicos de Niteroi describes the president’s childhood in the country’s impoverished Northeastern region and his mother’s journey to Sao Paulo with her children in search of a better life.

Lula's aides acknowledged the political sensitivity of the moment to Reuters. After the lawsuits multiplied, the president's team consulted legal advisers to clarify what restrictions apply during the pre‑campaign period.

Ministers attending the parade were instructed to remain seated in the audience, refrain from participating in the parade itself, avoid public funds for travel, and not make any election‑related gestures, statements, or live posts on social media. Lula will not speak publicly at the parade.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM ACADEMICOS DE NITEROI CARNIVAL DESIGNER / CARNIVAL FLOAT WITH BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA'S FACE

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 10, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. ACADEMICOS DE NITEROI SAMBA SCHOOL WORKER WELDING METAL FRAMES FOR COSTUME PRODUCTION

2. CLOSE-UP OF SCISSORS CUTTING ADHESIVE TAPE

3. FIGURE ON CARNIVAL FLOAT

4. POSTER WITH IMAGE OF BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA READING (Portuguese): "FROM THE HEIGHT OF MULUGU COMES HOPE. LULA, THE WORKER OF BRAZIL"

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ACADEMICOS DE NITEROI CARNIVAL DESIGNER, TIAGO MARTINS, SAYING:

"It's not campaigning. It’s a plot that tells the life story of a warrior of a man, who despite all obstacles got to the presidency."

6. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WORKING ON CARNIVAL FLOATS

7. CLOSE-UP OF WORKER'S HANDS GLUING COSTUME

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ACADEMICOS DE NITEROI CARNIVAL DESIGNER, TIAGO MARTINS, SAYING:

"We wanted to tell the story of a man who did a lot for the poor and for Brazil."

9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WORKING ON CARNIVAL FLOATS

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ACADEMICOS DE NITEROI CARNIVAL DESIGNER, TIAGO MARTINS, SAYING:

"The samba song says: "there are children of the poor becoming doctors", and I, a child of the poor, became a carnival designer."

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 15, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

11. CARNIVAL FLOAT WITH LULA'S FACE

12. CLOSE-UP OF LULA'S HAND MISSING ONE FINGER (LULA LOST PART OF FINGER IN A WORK-RELATED ACCIDENT)

13. LULA CARNIVAL FLOAT

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PARTICIPANT, ROSA MARIA, SAYING:

"Have you seen Lula with nine fingers? Wow, it's so emotional, so emotional! Long live Carnival, long live Brazil, long live Lula!"

15. LULA FIGURE LYING ON GROUND WAITING TO BE PLACED ON CARNIVAL FLOAT

16. ACADEMICOS DE NITEROI CARNIVAL FLOATS

17. MOTHER HELPING DAUGHTER WITH COSTUME

18. PEOPLE COLLECTING THEIR COSTUMES

19. FIGURE OF FORMER BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT JAIR BOLSONARO DRESSED AS CLOWN IN PRISONER OUTFIT BEHIND BARS / ELECTRONIC ANKLE MONITOR ON HIS LEG

20. ACADEMICOS DE NITEROI MEMBERS SINGING PART OF SAMBA SAYING (Portuguese): "NO AMNESTY"

23. ACADEMICOS DE NITEROI MEMBERS SINGING PART OF SAMBA TO HONOR LULA