Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed Salvador residents during the Bahia Carnival on February 15, 2026, between 3:45:27 PM and 6:15:18 PM UTC, praising the people's flair, rhythm, power, and axé while thanking local organizer @Jeronimoba13 for the invitation, according to a post by @tuitero_rafael on X. Lula stated, "Good evening, Salvador! A great honor and joy to be with you tonight at the Bahia Carnival. The people of Bahia have the flair. Rhythm. Power. Axé. It's impossible to stay still. It's an energy that you can only understand by coming here. Thank you, comrade [@Jeronimoba13], for the invitation, and to the people of Salvador for the affection. I wish everyone an excellent Carnival!" The message, translated from Portuguese, was accompanied by video credited to @ricardostuckert_. No additional official statements or actions from Lula or Brazilian authorities were reported during this 2-hour 29-minute period. The greeting occurred amid the ongoing Bahia Carnival festivities in Salvador, Bahia state.
