A Brazilian minister has voted to reject a party's claim of premature electoral campaigning related to a Carnival samba-enredo celebrating President Lula.
On October 12, Brazilian minister Estela Aranha voted against a legal action brought by the Novo party, which accused President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Workers' Party (PT), and the samba school Acadêmicos de Niterói of engaging in early electoral campaigning through their chosen samba-enredo for the 2026 Carnival. The samba-enredo, titled "Do alto do mulungu surge a esperança: Lula, o operário do Brasil," was seen by the Novo party as an attempt to promote Lula's image ahead of the elections.
Minister Aranha emphasized that the request was premature since the event in question has not yet occurred, suggesting that while the case does not warrant action at this point, future conduct could still be subject to scrutiny. The Novo party had requested a hefty fine amounting to R$ 9.65 million, which they claimed reflected the total economic impact of the alleged premature campaigning.
The rejection was supported by other ministers, including André Mendonça and Floriano de Azevedo Marques, indicating a consensus against the Novo party's claim. This ruling underscores the complexities involved in integrating political expression within cultural celebrations such as Carnival, highlighting ongoing tensions between political entities in Brazil as they navigate the regulations around electoral campaigning in light of upcoming elections.
