Andrea Innocenti Tomorrow is approaching Brazil's presidential runoff election, but tensions have already reached a fever pitch a week later. Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro , the Liberal Party candidate, participated in their first televised debate , a confrontation characterized more by insults than policy discussions. The atmosphere quickly became heated, with both sides pointing fingers at each other on multiple fronts, from alleged ties to militias to corruption scandals.
The audience, made up of approximately 33 million undecided voters, witnessed a verbal duel in which the 80-year-old Lula called Flavio "a habitual liar" and "a criminal," physically distancing himself from his opponent to emphasize the accusation of links to paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro. On the other side, Flavio, 45, responded by calling Lula "a clown" and justified his distance by fearing "they might steal my wallet."
The heated confrontation: insults and personal accusations
During the exchange, Flavio Bolsonaro accompanied his words with gestures: he walked behind Lula, shaking his head and smiling with just enough sarcasm to underscore his disappointment. Lula, for his part, demanded explanations regarding a corruption investigation involving his father, Jair Bolsonaro, sentenced to 27 years in prison with house arrest for attempting to overthrow the 2022 elections.
The question remained unanswered, as Flavio deflected the issue, instead focusing on criticizing the government's public spending.
The mutual accusations also concerned the candidates' personal lives. Lula claimed that Flavio had never taken a bus or used the Public Health System ( SUS ), calling him out of touch with the reality of the poorest citizens. Flavio, in turn, insinuated the existence of a money laundering case involving a lawyer close to his circle, citing a Federal Police investigation submitted to the Supreme Court.
Campaign issues: security, spending and healthcare
Beyond personal provocations, the debate touched on crucial issues for the Brazilian electorate. Flavio pointed the finger at the cost of living and crime, accusing Lula of "reckless spending" to maintain his party's social programs. Lula responded by asking Flavio what model for reducing public spending he intends to adopt, citing the extreme cuts implemented by Argentine President Javier Milei, a proposal Flavio avoided elaborating on.
The debate also highlighted Lula's criticism of Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic. His son admitted that the response to Covid-19 "wasn't among the best" during his father's presidency, offering a mea culpa and suggesting an attempt to distance himself from his controversial father.
The electoral context: polls, protests and judicial investigations
The results of the first round, on October 4, gave Flavio Bolsonaro 47% of the vote to Lula's 45%, a margin of two percentage points. A new Datafolha poll, conducted between October 13 and 14 among 2,520 respondents, confirms a slight lead for Flavio (47% to 45%), but within a margin of error of ± 2 points. Six percent of respondents said they would vote blank, while 2% remain undecided; excluding these, Flavio's lead shrinks to 51% to Lula's 49%.
The two factions organized mass demonstrations: in São Paulo, Flavio supporters filled Paulista Avenue with yellow, green, and blue flags, while in Brasilia, Lula supporters occupied the government square with red-collar workers from the Workers' Party. In Rio de Janeiro, singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso entertained the pro-Lula crowd. During the events, participants expressed deep frustration, with slogans ranging from "If another government comes in, we're screwed" to "Out with the bandits, out with Lula!"
Meanwhile, the Brazilian judiciary remains busy: the Federal Police has asked the Supreme Court to open a money laundering investigation against Flavio Bolsonaro, linked to a lawyer in his circle. The candidate is already under investigation for alleged ties to former banker Daniel Vorcoro, who financed a biopic about Jair Bolsonaro. These legal developments add further weight to the crucial contest scheduled for October 23, the last before the October 25 runoff.