Swedenberger Barbosa, known as Berger, the deputy chief of staff at the Planalto, the seat of Brazil's presidency, has been advised by people close to President Lula to resign, Metrópoles reported on Thursday (24). The pressure came a day after the outlet's column revealed that the aide received gifts worth tens of thousands of reais from lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger, a business partner of Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, known as Lulinha, the president's eldest son. Whether Berger will leave his post, and when, remains unclear. The decision comes ten days before the first round of Brazil's presidential election.
According to Metrópoles, which based its report on messages obtained from the lobbyist, the gifts included a gold Cartier Tank watch bought for 66,000 reais on April 29, 2024; a painting by Antonio Veronese purchased for 13,000 euros, about 83,000 reais at the time; a ring for the aide's wife; and a birthday party in a VIP box at the Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia on November 9, 2024, during a Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethania show. At the time, Berger was the number two at the Health Ministry under then minister Nisia Trindade and, according to the report, worked with Luchsinger on the release of federal funds to states and municipalities. The box belongs to 3Structure, a company Luchsinger lobbied for and which won 86 million reais in public contracts under Lula's government, the outlet reported.
In the messages, the aide thanks her for his 67th birthday party:
"Good morning, my friend. I am deeply grateful for all the consideration and friendship. The party that you and other friends dedicated to me was beautiful, flawless."
How the case reached the Planalto
The crisis grew out of Federal Police investigations involving Lulinha. According to Folha de S.Paulo, the force is examining messages and financial movements in three inquiries into suspected corruption and influence peddling, and suspects that Luchsinger advanced private interests before federal agencies in partnership with two hidden partners: Lulinha and businessman Fernando Bittar. At least four current or former government members are named in the case files: Rannier Costa Ciríaco, deputy executive secretary at the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance; Jose Martinho Ferreira de Araujo; Marco Aurelio Santana Ribeiro, known as Marcola, Lula's former chief of staff; and Swedenberger. Marcola's departure from government in early August brought the crisis to the Planalto's doorstep, Gazeta do Povo reported. In an interview on TV Globo on August 27, Lula denied knowing the lobbyist. "I don't know this woman. I have never seen this woman in my life. I have never spoken with this woman," the president said, calling her a "pilantra", Portuguese slang for a swindler.
Metrópoles also reported that Luchsinger arranged clothes, concert tickets and a piece of jewelry for Claudia Troiano, known as Claudinha, the president's personal secretary, who allegedly stayed at the lobbyist's Sao Paulo apartment in March 2025. When Berger's relationship with the lobbyist first became public, the Planalto chose to keep him in the job to avoid "jumping the gun", the outlet reported.
In a statement, the Planalto said Berger and Claudinha "categorically" deny having received any gifts or improper advantages from Luchsinger. Berger has stayed silent on the accusations; in the messages, however, he thanks her for the party and sends a photo of the Veronese painting hanging in his home, with a heart emoji. No one named in the inquiries has been formally charged so far. The next step is political rather than judicial: according to Metrópoles, the president's circle is waiting for Berger's decision on his post. Folha gave no timeline for the conclusion of the Federal Police inquiries.