The Federal Court of Auditors (TCU) opened an investigation to determine whether there were irregularities in the participation of public servants in the carnival parade that honored President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). On the 24th of this month, the court asked the Civil House and the Social Communication Secretariat (Secom) to send clarifications about the civil servants’ participation in the event.
The request for investigation was filed by parliamentarians from the Novo Party, who allege that federal government employees were used irregularly in the organization of a float in which First Lady Rosângela da Silva, known as Janja, would parade at Rio de Janeiro’s carnival.
The parade of the Acadêmicos de Niterói samba school included Janja’s participation in the last float, the “Amigos do Lula” car. The first lady decided at the last minute that she would not go up on the allegory to avoid challenges that would affect the president. She was replaced by singer Fafá de Belém.
In a statement at the time, the first lady said that “even with all the legal certainty” that she could participate in the parade, she chose not to do so “to be with the person she loves most in life”. She watched the parade alongside President Lula and former mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes (PSD).
The TCU determined that the Civil House and Secom send information and documents specifically detailing all employees of the Presidency of the Republic (including ceremonial, security, advisory and communication) who traveled to Rio between February 1st and 18th, 2026, “with the purpose of accompanying or supporting” Janja, Lula or State ministers during the event.
The Court also requested that the departments send the State’s total costs for the travel of employees, “detailing the expenses with daily allowances, air and land tickets, accommodation and possible overtime”.
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Furthermore, the TCU asked for clarification whether the Presidency’s ceremonial staff were requested for tasks such as sending invitations, organizing guest lists and collecting measurements to make costumes for the “Friends of Lula” car.
In the New Party’s action, filed before Carnival, there was a request for the parade to be canceled. The TCU highlighted that the request for a precautionary measure to prevent the parade was no longer valid, as the event had already been held when the Court accepted the representation.
The action was filed by federal deputies from Novo Adriana Ventura (SP), Gilson Marques (SC), Luiz Lima (RJ), Marcel van Hattem (RS), Ricardo Salles (SP) and senator Eduardo Girão (CE).
The process, reported by Minister Augusto Nardes, was attached to another investigation into Embratur transfers to the same carnival association.
