André Janones: The 'General' behind Lula's Army WhatsApp channel in Brazil's election
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's re-election campaign used a WhatsApp channel called 'Lula's Army' with 10.8 million followers, led by Congressman André Janones, to coordinate supporters and secure victory over Flávio Bolsonaro. The channel directed supporters to share videos, promote hashtags, and recruit voters through ready-made messages and urgent instructions. Janones hosted a 24-hour livestream on election eve, and Lula later called him "our General" after winning by approximately 4.4 million votes. Janones, a 42-year-old lawyer from Minas Gerais, gained prominence through social media during Brazil's 2018 truckers' strike. The campaign intensified after Lula's first-round setback, combining digital efforts with local outreach, though analysts note the exact influence of the WhatsApp channel on the result remains unclear.