President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva again denied knowing businesswoman and lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger after a series of images of him with her were released on social media. In an interview with Jornal Nacional, Lula stated categorically: "I don't know this girl. I have never seen her in my life and she has never been close to me." The official campaign statement clarified that the existence of photographic records does not mean personal, professional or political relationship.
The photos were posted by Roberta Luchsinger herself and began circulating widely after Lula's interview on JN, when he made the denial. The opposition began exploiting the topic, using the images to question the president's version.
Roberta Luchsinger and Lula's son, Fábio Luis Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, are under investigation by the Federal Police on suspicion of influence peddling in the government. The case has generated political damage for the president's campaign, which is trying to contain the damage caused by the repercussion of the images.
