Brazil's presidential campaign reached a new low on Sunday as incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro faced off in a televised debate marked by personal insults and mutual accusations of corruption. The acrimonious exchange, held in São Paulo, came just a week before the October 25 runoff, which polls suggest will be extremely tight.
Bolsonaro, the 45-year-old son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, surprised many by taking a narrow lead in the first round of voting earlier this month. He used the debate to attack Lula's record, repeatedly calling him a liar and referencing the corruption convictions that were later annulled. Lula, who is nearly 81 and seeking a fourth term, fired back, describing Bolsonaro as "a habitual liar, a thug" and alluding to his alleged links to Rio de Janeiro's paramilitary militias.
The two candidates clashed over the economy, public security, healthcare, and Brazil's relationship with the United States. Bolsonaro accused Lula of reckless spending to win re-election, pointing to social measures announced during the campaign. Lula, in turn, pressed Bolsonaro on his admiration for Argentina's libertarian president Javier Milei, whose austerity policies have led to higher unemployment and cuts to benefits. Bolsonaro repeatedly dodged the question, pivoting to other topics.
Lula also questioned Bolsonaro's ties to former US president Donald Trump, suggesting that the Bolsonaro family was "subservient to American interests." He accused his rival of planning to hand over Brazil's rare earth minerals to the United States, a charge Bolsonaro denied.
Corruption and abstention
Corruption remains a top concern for many Brazilian voters, but political analysts say its greatest impact may not be on which candidate they choose, but on whether they decide to vote at all. Both candidates are associated with graft in the minds of many Brazilians, and for their most loyal supporters, such allegations do little to dampen enthusiasm.
However, experts warn that a general perception of corruption can increase abstention and anti-incumbency sentiment, which could benefit Bolsonaro, who received 2.2 million more votes than Lula in the first round. In a country deeply polarized, voters on both sides view the other as a threat, making them less likely to weigh corruption allegations against their preferred candidate.
"We have a great ability to filter information that goes against our beliefs," said Nara Pavão, a political science professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco. "People don't want to discover the truth about their candidates, they want to beat the opponent."
Camila Tobji de Aquino, a 19-year-old student, said corruption is a significant problem in Brazil, but her main concern is the threat she believes Bolsonaro poses to democracy. "If I were to vote only for a candidate not tied to any corruption, I would vote blank," she said. "But that's not the choice Brazil is facing. For me it's a question of being able to vote in the next election."
The debate also touched on the legacy of Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for a failed coup attempt after his 2022 re-election loss. When Flávio Bolsonaro asked Lula why so many prisoners had supported him, Lula responded that he wanted all votes, including that of the former president. "Vote for me, Bolsonaro, you know your son, you know I'm better than him," he said.
As the campaign enters its final stretch, both candidates are focusing on mobilizing their bases. The first round saw voters wearing red hats and T-shirts for Lula's party, and yellow and green for Bolsonaro's movement, reflecting the deep divisions in Brazilian society. The outcome of Sunday's vote will have significant implications for Brazil's future, and for its role in global affairs, including its relations with Europe.
