Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 39th President of Brazil (2023–), served as president from 2003 to 2011. Throughout his career, he has faced multiple corruption and money laundering allegations, primarily linked to Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato). In 2017, he was convicted of passive corruption and money laundering regarding a triplex apartment in Guarujá and sentenced to nine years and six months in prison, later increased to 12 years and one month, then reduced to eight years and 10 months. He was imprisoned from April 2018 until November 2019. In 2021, the Supreme Federal Court annulled these convictions, ruling the court lacked jurisdiction and that the presiding judge was biased. Consequently, the cases were dismissed and his political rights restored. He has faced other allegations, including charges of obstructing justice and participating in influence-peddling schemes, such as Operation Zelotes. Throughout these proceedings, Lula has consistently maintained his innocence, characterizing the investigations as politically motivated.