The Lula government is experiencing yet another embarrassing moment that reveals how power is exercised in a protected manner in present-day Brazil
In the ninth phase of Operation Compliance Zero, the Federal Police targeted Senator Jaques Wagner, the government’s leader in the Senate and one of Lula’s closest allies.
The searches and seizures exposed serious suspicions: the parliamentarian allegedly received undue advantages, such as a multi-million dollar apartment and bribes, in exchange for acting in Congress in favor of the Banco Master scheme.
The most serious aspect, however, was the way the government itself acted.
Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça had to take extraordinary measures to conceal parts of the operation from the Federal Police command.
Director-General Andrei Rodrigues, appointed during Lula’s government and who was accompanying the president on an international trip, was caught by surprise.
Neither he nor the Planalto Palace were notified beforehand.
This internal distrust demonstrates that, even within institutions, there is fear of leaks or political interference when the target is someone from the core of power.
This episode exposes the government’s clear errors.
First, the appointment of a politically aligned director of the Federal Police creates a perception that the corporation does not act with complete independence.
When an investigation advances on the government leader, it is necessary to “hide” the action from the police chief himself so that it is not thwarted.
This is not a sign of institutional health, but of fragility and possible protection of allies.
Second, the case exposes the pattern of tolerance for financial irregularities involving allies.
Banco Master, involved in billion-dollar frauds, allegedly benefited figures linked to the PT (Workers’ Party) in Bahia.
Jaques Wagner, a historical figure of the party, now needs to explain relationships and seized assets.
Meanwhile, Lula demonstrates public solidarity, reinforcing the image of a government that defends its own regardless of the evidence.
The most profound error is the lack of real commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption without distinction of sides.
Operations that were once celebrated when they targeted adversaries now generate discomfort and surprise when they reach within their own circle.
The Presidential Palace was caught off guard, revealing a lack of coordination or, worse, the expectation that certain allies would be shielded.
This stance weakens the credibility of institutions and fuels public distrust regarding equal treatment under the law.
The Lula government, which presents itself as a defender of democracy and the rule of law, demonstrates in practice how political power still attempts to control, or at least be warned in advance, when investigations touch its core.
The need for extreme secrecy imposed by the Supreme Court Justice is a red flag: even the top brass of the Federal Police do not inspire complete confidence to investigate without risk of obstruction.
Cases like this reinforce the idea that, under Lula, corruption does not disappear-it merely changes address and gains layers of institutional protection.
Brazilian society deserves a truly independent, technical police force and a government that is neither surprised nor bewildered when the law gets close to its allies.
So far, the Compliance Zero episode against Jaques Wagner proves that we are still far from that standard.
Brazil is watching and demanding consistency.
Published in 06/21/2026 13h30
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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