During the Rio de Janeiro Carnival on Sunday, February 15, a samba school named Acadêmicos de Niterói held a performance dedicated to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which sparked controversy among right-wing politicians. The parade, partially funded by federal funds, not only exalted Lula's political journey but also depicted former President Jair Bolsonaro as a clown, which has led to strong reactions from Bolsonaro's supporters. Lula attended the event along with his wife Janja, who had initially planned to participate in the parade but did not. He later joined Rio's mayor Eduardo Paes in greeting the samba school's performers from the parade side.