Tarcísio goes to the STF against Lula after citing loan in debate and Flávio talks about PT's revenge

The attorney general of the State of São Paulo, Inês Coimbra, proposed a civil action originating in the STF (Supreme Federal Court) against the Union due to an alleged delay by the Lula government (PT) in authorizing the federal guarantee for a loan articulated by the Tarcísio de Freitas government (Republicans) with Banco do Brasil.

In the action, the Tarcísio government states that it has been waiting for more than 70 days for an order from the Ministry of Finance authorizing the operation, worth R$5.45 billion, the resources of which would be allocated to transport and urban mobility works. According to the petition, the National Treasury Secretariat gave a favorable opinion to the credit operation on May 19, and the process has been awaiting the minister's signature since June 10.

In a note, the Ministry of Finance states that the credit operation targeted by the request "follows the regular procedure". "Historically, the electoral period increases the demand for this type of operation, which impacts the volume of processes under analysis. Even so, the operation in the state of São Paulo is taking place within the usual deadlines and procedures and is in the final stage of processing", says the text.

The petition from São Paulo asks that the STF grant a provisional and immediate decision to force the Union to release the operation and, if Minister Dario Durigan does not sign the act within 48 hours, that the order be granted in court.

The document raised 61 credit operations similar to the one requested by São Paulo that were authorized, on average, in less than a month. In the case of Bahia, a state governed by the PT, a line of R$2 billion was released in nine days, still according to the action.

The Treasury, in turn, states that, since January 2023, the Union has already granted approval for credit operations worth R$250 billion across the country, destined for states and municipalities. Of this total, R$30 billion went to the São Paulo government.

“The annual average of guarantees granted to the state between 2023 and 2026 is more than three times higher than what the state of São Paulo historically obtained from the Union”, says a note from the ministry.

Criticism of the federal government's delay in releasing resources to São Paulo has already been made by Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), candidate for President, at least twice against Lula, his electoral opponent. Both Tarcísio and the mayor of the capital of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes (MDB), have echoed the PL presidential candidate.

On July 29, during a meeting between the senator and São Paulo councilors, organized by the mayor and with the participation of Tarcísio, Flávio cited the delay in releasing resources requested by Nunes and the governor and said that Lula has "a vindictive government, which uses the public machine to persecute opponents".

According to Flávio, the president wanted to "get revenge" on São Paulo because the state elected Tarcísio governor.

The following Saturday (1st), during the Republican convention that made Tarcísio's candidacy for re-election official, Flávio repeated the accusation that Lula was boycotting São Paulo.

In an electoral debate on Band between Tarcísio and Fernando Haddad (PT), last Sunday (9), the topic was addressed by both the governor and the former Minister of Finance.

The state government does not directly accuse, in the action, the Lula government of delaying the authorization of the loan for political reasons, although Tarcísio mentions this possibility to interlocutors, in line with Flávio's speech.

The action only raises the hypothesis, without direct accusation, by citing "political convenience" as a possible cause for the retention.

"While operations from other entities, including with the same financial agent, Banco do Brasil, are dispatched in a few days, the urban mobility operation in the state of São Paulo has remained stopped for nine weeks, without any technical, legal or management justification", says the initial petition for the action.

The text states that "this disparity, in itself, is a strong indication of a violation of federal equality and impersonality."

The Treasury states that "the request for analysis of the operation was initiated in November 2025 and, since then, there have been several exchanges between the National Treasury and the state government to complement the documentation and information required by legislation".

In addition to political pressure, São Paulo's rush has a legal argument, according to the action itself. If the authorization is not published by September 7th, the operation will be blocked and can only be resumed in the next term. The document cites a Senate resolution that prohibits authorizing and contracting credit operations in the 120 days prior to the end of the Chief Executive's term of office.

As Folha reported, Mayor Ricardo Nunes also formalized, in his case through a letter to the TCU (Federal Audit Court), complaints about the delay in releasing a R$3.5 billion loan already approved by the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank). In the case of Nunes, the Treasury argues that deficits in municipal public accounts hamper the operation.

Both Lula and Haddad often say that the federal government is "republican" when releasing federal resources and financing for some of Tarcísio's main flagships, such as Metro Line 6-Orange, the completion of the Rodoanel, the Intercidades Train and the Santos-Guarujá tunnel. The last two are still in the design phase.

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