André Janones: The deputy behind Lula's WhatsApp army

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva thanked federal deputy André Janones during his victory speech, calling him a "general" for his role in the campaign. Janones created the "Exército do Lula" WhatsApp channel to mobilize supporters. The channel gained prominence after Lula trailed in the first round and surpassed ten million followers during the second round. Janones sent audio messages and videos encouraging supporters to share content, though the initiative faced legal challenges from the opposing campaign. Janones, from Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais, rose to national prominence in 2018 during a truckers' strike. He was re-elected as a federal deputy in 2026 with 78,780 votes, having previously abandoned a presidential bid to support Lula.