Lula government sought to avoid religious power abuse accusations at Marcha para Jesus

The Brazilian government under President Lula adopted a deliberately discreet approach at the Marcha para Jesus event in São Paulo to sidestep potential accusations of religious power abuse from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). This cautious strategy marked a departure from previous years, aiming to maintain neutrality in a religiously significant gathering.

Jorge Messias, Minister of the Attorney General's Office and the federal government's representative at the event, participated by riding on a parade float. However, he refrained from delivering any speeches, a notable change from his involvement in prior marches. Officially, Messias followed President Lula's directive. Lula reportedly communicated to apostle Estevam Hernandes, an organizer of the Marcha, that he wished to avoid politicizing what he considered a sacred event.

This stance created a contrast with the speech given by Flávio Bolsonaro, a political figure who explicitly promised during his address that "evil would be expelled from the government of Brazil." The concept of religious power abuse remains a subject of debate within the TSE. While the court has previously rejected making it a standalone criminal offense, it has acknowledged that such actions can be a component in broader cases of political abuse.

In a recent decision on May 24, the TSE upheld the impeachment of the former mayor of Votorantim, São Paulo, Fabiola Alves da Silva. Her removal was linked to receiving overt support from the Quadrangular Evangelical Church during her 2024 election campaign, illustrating the court's scrutiny of religious influence in politics.