Story
Sep 26, 2026
PT presses courts to investigate alleged foreign help for Flávio Bolsonaro
The PT and Lula’s coalition argue that possible foreign involvement in Brazil’s election warrants a full judicial inquiry, while conservative commentators portray the accusations as a coordinated political narrative. Renan Santos, a separate presidential candidate, has raised similar concerns about overseas-paid content aimed at Brazilian voters.
The Workers’ Party (PT) and the coalition backing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have asked the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to investigate whether foreign actors, resources or digital operations benefited Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential bid.
Their filings do not treat U.S. government decisions as acts directly committed by Bolsonaro or his allies. Instead, they ask courts to determine whether contacts with foreign political networks translated into coordination, services, funding or electoral advantage. The coalition cites paid X posts from abroad, possible links to the U.S.-based Rockbridge Network, and undisclosed audiovisual material made available to a PL-linked platform. It seeks records from digital platforms and public bodies, along with possible financial and communications-data reviews.1
Angelo Ferraro, legal coordinator for Lula’s campaign, said the request is about establishing facts rather than presuming guilt: “What we are asking is that the facts be clarified, especially regarding the origin of resources, the actions of foreign agents and any electoral benefits.”1 The PT has requested annulment of the Flávio Bolsonaro–Alfredo Gaspar ticket and eight-year ineligibility for Flávio and Eduardo Bolsonaro if electoral abuses are substantiated.1
Conservative voices have responded by rejecting the premise and casting the case as campaign tactics. Commentator Rodrigo Constantino called the development “a farce,” while amplifying criticism of Lula’s campaign.
2 A reposted message shared by Paulo Figueiredo similarly alleged that officials and allies were all advancing “the same narrative” around foreign interference.
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Yet the concern is not confined to Lula’s camp. Renan Santos, the Missão presidential candidate, separately petitioned the TSE, arguing that large U.S.-based accounts connected to Donald Trump’s political orbit had paid to promote content to Brazilian voters. “This is not only external interference, but also money boosted outside the campaign,” he said.4
The U.S. government has denied the allegation of interference, according to reporting on the competing court actions. Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign said it was unaware of the advertisements cited by the PT; other people named in the filings have denied wrongdoing.4