Mensalão scandal
Videos
Photos
The Mensalão scandal was a major parliamentary alleged vote-buying scandal by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration that threatened to bring down his government in 2005. Mensalão is a neologism, a variant of the word for "big monthly payment".
Roberto Jefferson was the whistleblower of the alleged corruption scheme.
José Dirceu was the Chief of Staff of Brazil when the scandal broke. He was dropped after Jefferson described Dirceu as the ringleader of a plot to hand out illegal monthly payments to congressmen.
José Genoino was found guilty of bribery by the Supreme Federal Court for his involvement in the Mensalão scandal.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Videos
Photos
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, also known as Lula da Silva or simply Lula, is a Brazilian politician who is the 39th and current president of Brazil since 2023. A member of the Workers' Party, Lula was also the 35th president from 2003 to 2011. He also holds the presidency of the G20 since 2023.
Official portrait, 2023
Lula lost his left pinky in a work-related accident when he was a metalworker in 1974
Lula speaking at the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies, 1989
Lula climbs ramp leading to the Palácio do Planalto with Vice President José Alencar for the official ceremony marking the beginning of their second term, 2007.