Lula faces Senate challenges and gifts Rio de Janeiro

On 26 June 2026, Brazilian politics centered on Lula. The new leader of the government in the Senate faces challenges: costly bills, distance between Lula and Alcolumbre, and a tight calendar. Lula said he is confident of Paes's victory and gave a gift to Rio de Janeiro. The PF said Flávio Bolsonaro committed the crime of slander against Lula in a post about Maduro, and Tarcísio downplayed a crisis between Michelle and Flávio Bolsonaro as 'a family matter'.