Crony Cash: Lula’s Inner Circle Cashes In on Taxpayer Dollars
By Hotspotnews
In a story that’s got Brazil’s honest folks shaking their heads, another chapter in the endless saga of PT corruption has come to light. Francisco “Chico” Kertész, the business buddy of a top government insider, just pocketed a cool R$12 million from state-run companies like Caixa Econômica Federal and Embratur. And get this—it’s all for “ad campaigns” under President Lula’s watch. Coincidence? In Brasília, that’s about as likely as a politician turning down a free lunch.
Let’s break it down simple: Kertész runs a production outfit called Macaco Gordo. Since 2024, his firm has been raking in cash through subcontracts on big public ad jobs. Caixa handed over nearly R$8 million for lottery promotions and financial ads—think flashy videos for Quina de São João and Lotofácil da Independência. Embratur chipped in R$4 million for tourism pushes like “Afroturism.” That’s your money, folks—hard-earned taxes from working Brazilians—funneled to a guy who’s basically besties with the man calling the shots.
Who’s the insider? Sidônio Palmeira, the Executive Secretary of Secom, the government’s communication powerhouse. These two aren’t casual acquaintances. They’re partners in a firm called Nordx/M4 Comunicação, which helped run Lula’s 2022 campaign. Palmeira’s old agency, Leiaute, even did gigs for Bahia state back in the day. Now, as a bigwig in the administration, Palmeira swears he stepped back from day-to-day ops. But he’s still a shareholder. And Kertész? He’s popped into the Palácio do Planalto 13 times this year alone—all to chat with his pal Palmeira. Personal visits, they say. Right.
The setup sounds clean on paper: Ad agencies win bids from Caixa and Embratur, then shop around for producers. Macaco Gordo underbids the competition and lands the work. No direct handouts, they claim. Follows the rules, to a T. But here’s where the stink hits: In a country where trust in government is lower than a snake’s belly, does anyone buy that these deals happened without a wink and a nod? Palmeira says he never “indicated” his buddy’s firm. Kertész calls it all “fair competition.” The agencies and state firms echo the line: everything above board, no funny business.
Pull the other one. This isn’t the first time the PT machine has turned public funds into private fortunes. Remember Mensalão? Petrolão? Those weren’t accidents—they were the blueprint. Lula’s back in power, promising change, but it’s the same old game: Friends get fat contracts, taxpayers get the bill, and accountability? That’s for suckers. One addendum in 2025 even skipped the usual quotes, adding R$687,000 on the fly. “Scope expansion,” they shrug. Sure.
Conservatives have been warning about this for years. Real leadership means draining the swamp, not refilling it with cronies. Under Bolsonaro, we saw efforts to tighten belts and root out waste. Now? It’s open season for the Lula loyalists. This R$12 million could have fixed potholes in São Paulo or fed families in the favelas. Instead, it’s propping up a production company tied to the palace.
It’s time for Congress to wake up and launch a full probe. No more slaps on the wrist—real consequences. And voters? Keep your eyes peeled come next election. Brazil deserves better than a government that treats the treasury like a piggy bank for pals. Demand transparency. Demand integrity. Because if we don’t, the only ones laughing will be the ones cashing the checks.