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Lula's third interrogation at Lava was focused on the case of the site. Judge Gabriela Hardt tensely led the session, marked by clashes and Lula's vehement defense.

 

 

In 2024, looking back, the events of November 14, 2018 at the Federal Court of Curitiba still reverberate in the Brazilian political scene. That day, former president Luiz  Lula da Silva faced his third interrogation related to Operation Lava , this time focused on the accusations in the case of the site.

 

The atmosphere was tense from the beginning when Lula, escorted by the Federal Police, arrived at the court, where hundreds of protesters and supporters were already gathered, waving flags and chanting slogans in his defense. 

 

Judge Gabriela Hardt , Moro's replacement, conducted the interrogation with visible insecurity, trying to justify the accusations against Lula.

 

The initial dialogue was marked by direct clashes. Lula, frustrated with the situation, questioned whether he was considered the owner of the site, which the judge refuted, explaining that the accusation focused on the benefits he obtained through renovations. In other words, it was a surreal situation, in which spectators, intoxicated with the machine created by Lava , did not stop to reflect on the absurdity they were witnessing. 

 

This session was punctuated by moments of tension, with frequent interruptions from Lula's lawyers, Cristiano  and José Roberto , and prosecutor  Ribeiro Costa, from the Federal Public Ministry, who debated - in front of a pusillanimous judge - about the conduct of the interrogation and the possibility of Lula exercising his self-defense.

 

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After hours of testimony, Lula reaffirmed his innocence regarding knowledge or involvement in the site's renovations and criticized the way in which the accusations were presented over the years.

 

Judge Hardt, in turn, maintained an authoritarian stance, a common act of those who try to hide their inexperience, interrupting Lula when she considered that the testimony deviated into political discourse, which was the true reason for the action.

 

At the end of the day, the former president returned to prison, while opinions about the interrogation were divided between criticism of the judicial system and support for the former president. 

 

The event not only captured Brazil's attention at the time, but also continued to be a point of discussion about justice and politics in subsequent years.

 

And, not by chance, it is on the agenda again today.