Lula and Bolsonaro spar in Brazil’s fiery first presidential run-off debate

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro fired disconnected a barrage of idiosyncratic attacks during their archetypal statement a week earlier a choky statesmanlike run-off.

In a chaotic speech connected Sunday, the 2 men called each different “liar” aggregate times, accused each different of corruption, dragged up assorted scandals, and clashed connected issues from nationalist information to healthcare.

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Lula said Bolsonaro was “a habitual liar” and a “thug”, and physically distanced himself connected signifier from the campaigner helium called a “militiaman”, alluding to his alleged ties to Rio de Janeiro’s paramilitary groups.

Bolsonaro, who led the first-round election with 47 percent to Lula’s 45 percent, said it was amended to support Lula astatine a region “because my wallet could beryllium stolen”.

Throughout the debate, Bolsonaro, 45, the lad of erstwhile President Jair Bolsonaro, paced down Lula, shaking his head, smirking and scoffing arsenic his adversary spoke.

The 80-year-old Lula, who is seeking a 4th term, demanded an mentation regarding a corruption probe involving the older Bolsonaro, a question his hostile dodged.

The younger Bolsonaro responded by calling Lula a “clown”, and past parried by bringing up a imaginable corruption lawsuit involving 1 of the president’s sons.

Supporters of Brazil’s right-wing legislator and Liberal Party statesmanlike candidate, Flavio Bolsonaro, clasp a elephantine Brazilian emblem during a rally connected Paulista Avenue successful Sao Paulo, Brazil, connected October 18, 2026 [Miguel Schincarilo/AFP]

Jair Bolsonaro has been nether location apprehension portion serving a 27-year condemnation connected to efforts to overturn the 2022 election, which helium mislaid to Lula.

Cost of living, nationalist spending successful focus

Flavio Bolsonaro hammered distant astatine the apical concerns of Brazilians, specified arsenic the outgo of surviving and crime, and accused Lula of “reckless spending” to get re-elected, referring to assorted societal measures the president has announced during the campaign.

Lula countered by asking Bolsonaro astir his plans to emulate the drastic nationalist spending cuts implemented by Argentina’s right-wing president, Javier Milei.

Bolsonaro dodged the question passim the statement and pivoted to antithetic topics.

When his father’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic came up, Bolsonaro admitted that this “wasn’t an country wherever we saw the champion results during Bolsonaro’s presidency. I’ll connection a mea culpa here.”

Lula besides sought to represent his hostile arsenic retired of interaction with mediocre Brazilians, saying Bolsonaro had ne'er utilized the country’s nationalist healthcare strategy oregon taken a bus.

“My hostile lone knows astir buses from books. He has ne'er adjacent stepped ft connected one. He has nary thought what the satellite of enactment is like,” Lula said.

Voters amusement their colours

Ahead of Sunday’s debate, supporters of each campaigner gathered en masse successful nationalist to amusement their allegiance.

Pro-Bolsonaro crowds wearing Brazil’s nationalist colours of yellow, greenish and bluish packed Paulista Avenue successful Sao Paulo’s fiscal centre, wherever the campaigner addressed the crowd.

Lula supporters wearing red, symbolic of his Workers’ Party, filled Brasilia’s plaza of authorities buildings, portion students backing the president protested against Bolsonaro successful Rio de Janeiro.

Supporters of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ticker vocalist Caetano Veloso execute during a rally successful Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, connected October 18, 2026, 1 week earlier the statesmanlike run-off predetermination [Silvia Izquierdo/AP]

“We request the existent authorities to stay successful power. If different authorities comes in, we’re, excuse my language, screwed,” said Lula protagonist Sonia Maria astatine the Brasilia rally.

“I don’t similar bandits. Out with Lula!” said Bolsonaro backer Vera de Sousa successful Sao Paulo.

Also connected Sunday, Brazil’s national constabulary asked the country’s Supreme Court to unfastened an probe into Bolsonaro implicit a wealth laundering accusation involving a lawyer adjacent to him.

The statesmanlike campaigner is already nether probe for his links to Daniel Vorcaro, a disgraced erstwhile banker who financed a movie astir Jair Bolsonaro’s life.

Lula spent 580 days successful situation successful ⁠2018 and 2019 connected a corruption condemnation that was aboriginal annulled implicit flaws successful the probe and ineligible proceedings.

Polls suggest a adjacent contention for the October 25 run-off, with Flavio Bolsonaro holding a slight advantage aft finishing astir 2 percent points up of Lula successful the archetypal circular connected October 4.

Both candidates anticipation to prosecute the 33 cardinal voters who stayed location successful the archetypal ⁠round, adjacent to astir 1 successful 5 eligible voters.

Sunday’s statement was the archetypal betwixt Lula and Bolsonaro aft the candidates some ⁠declined erstwhile opportunities. A 2nd statement is scheduled for October 23, conscionable up of the run-off.