Economy & Business - May 2026

For President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, few institutions carry as much weight – or as much baggage – as the Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social (INSS). The social security agency is far more than just a government branch that hands out retirement checks. It provides a host of benefits to millions of Brazilians and is a symbol of Lula’s idea of a generous welfare state. Going into an election year, the INSS needed to be in tip top shape, lest it foment voter dissatisfaction. And in good shape it was not. Following a massive corruption scandal at the INSS that had tainted the government’s social agenda, the institute was racking up significant waiting times that were beginning to turn into a political time bomb for Lula.