https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/12/americas/brazil-lawmakers-change-name-support-lula/index.html
— Dozens of Brazilian lawmakers from the socialist Workers’ Party, the PT, have requested to change their
names to include “Lula.”
The act is in solidarity with former President and founding member of PT Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. On Saturday,
Lula da Silva turned himself over to federal authorities to begin serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption.
PT politicians in both houses of Brazil’s National Congress
submitted requests to include Lula in their parliamentary
name, which identifies them in the polls and during legislative
sessions.
“It’s the ‘I’m Lula’ campaign. Lula asked us all to speak for
him,” PT Sen. Lindbergh Farias, who requested his name be
changed to Lindbergh Lula Farias, told the state-run news
agency Agencia Brasil.
The campaign also included the PT president and senator
from the southern state of Paraná, Gleisi Homann.
“I request your excellency to alter, in the records of this House,
including in the plenary electronic panel, my parliamentary
In the Chamber of Deputies, Brazil’s lower congressional house, at least 36 PT lawmakers submitted name change
requests to the chamber’s presidency, state media reported.
Lula da Silva was found guilty in July 2017 of corruption and
money laundering in a wide-ranging graft investigation into
the state-run oil company Petrobras, dubbed “Operation Car
Wash.” His request to remain free while appealing the
conviction was denied by a federal court last week.
Since Lula da Silva surrendered to federal police, PT
politicians and supporters have held rallies calling for his
release and claiming his innocence.
The 72-year-old, who governed Brazil from 2003-2011, was
considered a front-runner in the presidential elections in
October 2018. However, his detention has cast serious doubt
on his bid to regain power.