Bolsonaro and Lula da Silva lock last debate before second round in Brazil

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party (PL, right), who is seeking re-election, and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2010) of the Workers’ Party (PT, left) held their final televised debate Friday night before the second round of elections scheduled for Sunday.

The debate, broadcast by the Globo television network, allowed voters to compare the proposals of the candidates and their respective governments and make their voting decision.

The debate lasted more than two hours and covered topics including wage policy, poverty reduction, health, education, security, foreign policy, and the environment.

The event consisted of five blocks, two with free topics, two with fixed topics, and one with final reflections.

President Bolsonaro sought to reinforce the rejection of the Petista leader by accusing the latter’s governments of corruption and deterioration of public security.

At the same time, Lula da Silva reiterated that the current government has cut workers’ incomes and criticized policies to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The issue that opened the first block, the question of wages and purchasing power, took up most of the time.

Bolsonaro promised that if re-elected, he would raise the minimum wage to 1,400 reais (US$260), a 15 percent increase.

Lula da Silva said that if he won, he would resume the policy of annual minimum wage adjustments that allowed for a natural increase of more than 70 percent during his two terms in office.

As in previous debates, each candidate sought to destabilize their opponent, and both dismissed their opponent’s arguments as untrue on numerous occasions.

In his closing remarks, Lula da Silva said that Brazil’s best time ever experienced was “possibly” during his administration.

“People were working, their salaries were rising above the rate of inflation every year,” he stressed, saying the country needed to move away from hatred and confusion and enter a period of greater harmony and job creation.

Finally, he urged voters to vote for him to “bring the country back together and people can eat well again.”

Bolsonaro thanked God and affirmed that he was ready to serve another term as president of the republic if it was the people’s will.

He said that the elections were a choice between “living in freedom or not,” that his candidacy was in defense of the Brazilian family, and he spoke out against abortion and the legalization of drugs.

The president said he was sure he would win on Sunday and concluded with his well-known slogan, “Brazil above all, God above all.”

In the first round of voting, former President Lula da Silva received 57.2 million votes, representing 48.43 percent of the valid votes.

Bolsonaro received 51 million votes, representing 43.20 percent of the valid votes.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error