Brazil’s Lula and Bolsonaro clash in first debate ahead of polls

Incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (son of former President Jair Bolsonaro) clashed during their first direct televised debate ahead of Brazil's runoff election.

The televised debate aired live on Band TV ahead of the deciding October 25 runoff election. Flávio Bolsonaro pulled off a surprise lead in the first round of voting with 47% to Lula's 45%. The debate quickly descended into personal jabs, with the candidates calling each other "liars," "militiamen," "clowns," and "thugs".

Lula kept physical distance from Flávio on stage, quipping that he had to stay away "because my wallet could be stolen," while Flávio warned that "Brazil is going to retire you". Flávio Bolsonaro attacked Lula on inflation, public spending, and cost-of-living increases. Lula countered by warning that Bolsonaro planned to emulate Argentina's Javier Milei through severe public sector cuts and criticized the Bolsonaro family’s ties to US interests.