Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and conservative Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro traded sharp attacks on infrastructure, public security, and corruption allegations as they faced off Friday in their final debate before Sunday’s presidential runoff.
The second head-to-head debate between the two candidates, broadcast from TV Globo’s Rio de Janeiro studios, comes as the latest Datafolha poll, released Thursday, shows both contenders locked at 50%.
Bolsonaro, 45, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, previously led the first round with 47%, while the 80-year-old Workers’ Party (PT) leader was at 45%.
Bolsonaro opened the debate by attacking the administration’s public works record, claiming 100,500 construction projects in the country are stalled.
“Brazil has once again become a vast graveyard of construction projects,” he said, criticizing the government’s fiscal spending. “Purchasing power has been destroyed by the government, which spends too much.”
Lula countered by pledging to complete all halted works, pointing to federal investments in highways, tunnels and water diversion projects.
To shore up middle-class support, Bolsonaro promised to raise the minimum wage and pensions while assuring voters he would not privatize the state-owned Banco do Brasil or Petrobras.
The candidates repeatedly clashed on personal records and policy histories. Lula criticized Flavio for opposing an extension of maternity leave during his tenure as a Rio de Janeiro state representative. Bolsonaro conceded, saying, “After having had children, I would vote completely differently.”
Lula revisited the elder Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, accusing that administration of letting more than 700,000 citizens die by ignoring medical advice.
Bolsonaro accused Lula of maintaining lenient criminal justice policies.
“Lula, why don’t you put the victims’ interests above those of the criminals?” he asked.
The debate turned into mutual accusations when Lula raised an offshore property dispute involving Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison, who recently accused Bolsonaro of acquiring an island and mansion in Angra dos Reis through illicit legal maneuvers.
While Lula sought to highlight corruption allegations surrounding the Bolsonaro family, the focus on hyper-specific real estate claims derailed the broader policy debate, prompting Bolsonaro to respond with claims that Lula accepted a 500,000 real ($100,700) bottle of high-end whiskey from a political donor.
To prevent non-verbal intimidation tactics seen during Sunday’s TV Band debate, where Bolsonaro frequently stood behind Lula while he spoke, TV Globo enforced strict stage rules requiring the candidates to remain in designated areas while the other spoke.
Brazilians will head to the polls Sunday to decide the presidency in what analysts have described as one of the nation’s most polarized elections.
The tight polling margin has spurred massive digital and grassroots mobilization in Brazil. Seeking a dramatic virada, or comeback, the PT launched a massive social media push through its “Lula Army” WhatsApp network, gaining more than 1 million followers Friday to reach nearly 10 million subscribers.
Building on his first-round lead, Bolsonaro has sought to position himself as part of a broader conservative resurgence in Latin America, despite former US President Donald Trump not explicitly endorsing him.