Post by : Shweta
Final Debate Held Before Presidential Runoff
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro faced off in the final televised presidential debate on Friday, October 23, 2026, ahead of the runoff election scheduled for Sunday. The debate, hosted by Globo, Brazil’s most-watched television channel, lasted more than two hours. Both candidates sought to attract undecided voters as opinion polls suggested a close contest.
Polls Show a Tight Presidential Race
Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, had led Lula in the first round earlier in October, according to the report. However, recent opinion polls showed the candidates running at roughly equal levels as the gap narrowed. The final debate became an important opportunity for both campaigns to present their positions before voting day.
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Cost of Living and Food Prices Take Centre Stage
The cost of living was one of the main issues discussed during the debate. Lula defended his government’s increases in the minimum wage above the inflation rate and said his administration had helped millions of Brazilians escape hunger. Flavio Bolsonaro argued that food prices had increased during Lula’s administration and criticised the government’s tax reform, claiming the changes could increase the tax burden on consumers.
Welfare and Economic Policies Under Scrutiny
The candidates also discussed welfare and their economic proposals. Lula defended his administration’s social policies and challenged Bolsonaro’s understanding of the difficulties faced by lower-income Brazilians. Bolsonaro, in turn, questioned the government’s economic decisions and argued that rising household expenses remained a concern for families.
Personal Remarks and an Apology During the Debate
The debate included personal exchanges between the candidates. At one point, Bolsonaro apologised after using a reference to Lula’s missing left little finger, which the president lost in a workplace accident when he was younger. Lula said he would not accept the remark and demanded a retraction. Bolsonaro apologised for causing offence but then challenged Lula to address Brazilians concerned about insecurity and debt.
Corruption Allegations Become a Major Topic
In the final part of the debate, the candidates exchanged allegations connected to Banco Master, a financial institution involved in a fraud investigation, according to the report. Lula questioned Bolsonaro about alleged links to the bank’s jailed banker, Daniel Vorcaro. Bolsonaro raised accusations involving Lula’s son and a pension-related fraud case. These were campaign allegations exchanged during the debate and should not be treated as established findings without independent confirmation.
Campaign Enters Its Final Hours
The debate was among the last major events before the runoff. According to the report, Brazilian electoral law prohibits candidates from broadcasting radio and television campaign advertisements from Saturday, although rallies can continue until the final hours of the day. With the race described as close, the candidates’ messages on prices, welfare, security and corruption allegations remained central to their efforts to win voters’ support.
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