Lula says money and influence won’t stop the PF and the fight against factions has reached the top

BRASILIA – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) declared this Thursday 25, in his Christmas speech broadcast on National Radio and Television, that the fight against criminal factions has reached, for the first time, what he called “at the top”. Lula also said that factors such as money and influence will not stop the federal police from moving forward.

“For the first time, the fight against criminal factions has reached the summit and neither money nor influence will stop the federal police from moving forward,” the president said.

Lula also mentioned Operation Hidden Carbon, launched in August, which, according to the head of the Executive, is “the largest ever carried out against organized crime”.

In his speech, Lula also said that the end of the 6×1 scale, without salary reduction, is a demand of the people that must become a reality, and welcomed the approval of the income tax exemption in Congress in 2025.

Planalto began promoting Operation Hidden Carbon, carried out by the Federal Revenue Service and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of São Paulo, since Operation Containment, launched by Rio’s security forces, which left 121 dead at the end of October.

In its account, the government claims to have succeeded in attacking more organized crime “without firing a single shot”, comparing the consequences of the deadliest operation in the country’s history.

President says whoever played against Brazil lost

In his speech, Lula also said that the year 2025 was marked by the defeat of those who, according to him, “supported or played against Brazil.” According to the PT member, the Brazilian people were the “big winner” in this “difficult” period marked by “many challenges.”

“And when the fireworks shine in the sky, on the night of the 31st, a historic year in Brazil will end. A difficult year, with many challenges, but a year in which everyone who supported or played against Brazil ended up losing. A year in which the Brazilian people appear to be the big winners,” the president said.

Lula also highlighted the initiatives carried out by the government during the year, such as the Brazilian CNH and other programs like Agora Tem Especialistas, Pé-de-Meia, Gás do Povo, Luz do Povo, Novo PAC, Bolsa Família, Minha Casa, Minha Vida, the Transposition of the São Francisco River. According to the president, these actions contributed to the country reaching “the lowest unemployment rate in history.”

The president also promoted the holding of COP30 in Belém as an achievement of the government, which, according to him, has consolidated the country as a world leader and “loved and respected by the world.”

“We hosted in the heart of the Amazon, in Belém do Pará, the largest climate event in the world. COP30 was a success and consolidated Brazil as a world leader on the most important issue of this century,” he said.

Lula also followed the tone of recent speeches and addressed the issue of violence against women. He once again said he would lead a “national effort” involving ministries, democratic institutions and civil society to combat rising crime.

“I also want to take this moment to say that people who are so kind and capable of producing such beautiful things cannot accept violence against women,” the president said.

Lula on the tafiraço: we do not flee the fight

Lula also said during his Christmas speech that Brazil faced an “unprecedented challenge” when it was taxed at 50% by the United States. According to the president, it is a victory “for sovereignty, democracy and the Brazilian people”.

“We have shown Brazil and the world that we are for dialogue, fraternity and that we do not back down from the fight. We rely on diplomacy, we protect our businesses, we avoid layoffs. We negotiated the end of customs tariffs and now, in December, we have exceeded the mark of 500 new markets open to our products”, declared the president.

Despite Lula’s speech, Brazilian products continue to be taxed by the United States and Brazilian authorities, such as Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, are still sanctioned by the White House. Lula says he is putting pressure on United States President Donald Trump to withdraw all measures imposed against Brazil.