Lula’s action to keep gifts may favor Bolsonaro, assess TCU ministers

Ministers of the Federal Audit Court (TCU) assess that a lawsuit filed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) requesting the return of gifts he received in other terms may favor former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the case of jewelry Saudis. The information was disclosed by the column Panelat Folha de S. Paulo.

Lula asks the Federal Regional Court of the 3rd Region (TRF3) to annul the TCU judgment that determined, in 2016, the return of 21 gifts to be incorporated into the public collection of the Presidency of the Republic. The petista argues that the items were given to him as an individual, and not as president.

The TRF3 has already postponed the analysis of the case twice since the Saudi jewelry case involving Bolsonaro was disclosed, according to the investigation of the Panel. Bolsonaro’s defense argues that the jewels received by the former president were part of his personal collection. TCU ministers assess that, if Lula’s case is annulled, it will be possible to open a loophole for the return of Bolsonaro’s gifts and the weakening of the police investigation against him.