Lulinha: Scandal involving the president's son shakes up elections
A brawl in the Brazilian National Congress, involving physical altercations and shouting, led to the suspension of a parliamentary inquiry (CPMI) session investigating a massive social security fraud scandal. The conflict was triggered by the decision to lift the bank secrecy of Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, the son of President Lula da Silva. Federal Police are investigating whether Lulinha received payments from Antônio Antunes, a key figure in the 'INSS Spree' scandal, which involved the diversion of over one billion euros in pensions to shell companies. While Lulinha denies receiving the funds, messages seized by police suggest links between him and Antunes regarding business interests in Portugal. The incident has effectively ended the informal 'non-aggression pact' between the government and the opposition, turning the inquiry into a central battleground for the 2026 presidential election.
