President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended, this Thursday (18), that all people involved, even indirectly, in the scheme of illegal discounts for retirees and pensioners of the National Social Security Institute (INSS) be investigated, including their families. “Whoever was involved will pay the price,” he said in a press interview at Palácio do Planalto.
“It is important that there is seriousness so that we can investigate all the people who are involved, all the people. No one will go free. If my son is involved in this, he will be investigated,” said Lula.
The name of the president’s son, Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, appeared in a witness statement linked to businessman Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes, known as Careca from INSS. Antônio acted on behalf of civil servant associations and entities, intermediating the authorization of discounts and receiving percentages of these amounts through companies he owned.
Lula’s brother, José Ferreira da Silva, known as Frei Chico, is also mentioned in the investigations. He is vice-president of the National Union of Retirees, Pensioners and Elderly People, Sindinapi, one of the entities investigated for undue embezzlement.
The Federal Police (PF) launched, this morning, new phase of Operation Without Discountwhich investigates the fraudulent scheme at INSS. Among those arrested is Romeu Carvalho Antunes, son of Careca from INSS.
The PF operation targets a national discount scheme for unauthorized association fees between 2019 and 2024.
Asked about the delay in actually starting the operation, which began in April this year, Lula stated that the government wanted to investigate seriously and did not want to use pyrotechnics. “It would be very easy for you to make a complaint and not investigate,” he said. According to him, the Comptroller General of the Union spent “practically” two years carrying out the investigation.
The National Congress also installed a joint parliamentary commission of inquiry (CPMI) to investigate the case. “I’m not from the CPI, I’m not a delegate of the Federal Police and I’m not a minister of the Supreme Court. What I can say to you is that in whatever depends on the Presidency of the Republic, everything will be done so that we can teach this country a lesson”, stated Lula.
“It is not possible for you to admit, in a country where millions of retirees earn a minimum wage, that you have someone trying to appropriate, expropriate the retiree’s money with false promises”, he added.
The president received journalists for breakfast at Palácio do Planalto, followed by a press conference. He was accompanied by the Finance Ministers, Fernando Haddad; from the Civil House, Rui Costa; of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira; and Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva.
Reimbursement
After the repercussions of Operação Sem Desconto, the federal government established a compensation agreement with policyholders who were victims of fraud.
According to the INSS, until last week, R$2.74 billion had been paid under the agreement to 4 million retirees and pensioners. Payment is made directly into the benefit account, adjusted for inflation, without the need for legal action.
Disputing undue discounts can be made until February 14, 2026 via the Meu INSS app, Central 135 or at post offices. Even after this date, membership of the reimbursement agreement will continue to be available to those who are entitled.
The reimbursement will cost the government R$3.3 billion in credits opened by provisional measure. As these are extraordinary credits, the money is outside the fiscal framework and will not count towards meeting the primary result targets or government spending limits.
The Federal Attorney General’s Office has already taken legal action against associations and companies under investigation to seek the recovery of money irregularly deducted from retirees and pensioners.
