Lula and Flávio Clash in First Runoff Debate
BRAZIL · ELECTIONS
Published Sunday, 18 October, 11:26 p.m. ET · Source: Band debate, Folha de S.Paulo, Congresso em Foco
Key Facts
- The debate On Sunday 18 October, Band TV hosted the first runoff debate between President Lula and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro in São Paulo, starting at about 7 p.m. ET.
- What changed The two candidates met face to face for the first time in the campaign, one week before the vote on Sunday 25 October.
- The economy Lula defended his economic record, while Flávio pledged to free up more than R$200 billion (about US$39.5 billion) in the federal budget.
- The format Journalists Adriana Araújo and Eduardo Oinegue moderated three blocks, including 30 minutes of open exchange.
- Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 75.0 points (October 2026 edition).
- Prediction markets Polymarket gives Flávio Bolsonaro a 78.6% chance of winning the 25 October runoff and Lula 21.5% (18 October, 11:21 p.m. ET). Polymarket puts Flávio Bolsonaro’s chance of winning at 79% and Kalshi at 80% (Lula: 22% and 21%), as of 18 October, 11:20 pm ET; prices are bets, not polls.
- Still open No poll has yet measured the debate’s effect on voters.
Runoff · Sunday, 25 October
Brazil Runoff 2026: Lula vs Flávio
Date, polls, debates, odds and how the runoff works, updated every day.
Brazil election 2026 · Brazil election polls · Brazil election odds · Brazil runoff date and results start · Brazil election results · All election stories
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president, and Flávio Bolsonaro, senator for Rio de Janeiro, clashed over debt, food prices and public spending in the first debate of the Brazil election 2026 runoff. The Band debate began at about 7 p.m. ET on Sunday 18 October in São Paulo and ran into the night, a week before voters choose between them.
Lula, of the left-wing Workers’ Party (PT), defended the economic record of his governments. Flávio, of the conservative Liberal Party (PL), told viewers that food and debt costs are squeezing families, and prediction markets (Brazil election odds) still favour him.
Economy: Lula Defends His Record, Flávio Targets Debt
Lula said he is proud that Brazil won two investment-grade credit ratings under his governments and is close to regaining that status, Folha de S.Paulo reported. He argued that money spread across many households drives growth, and he said Brazil repaid a US$30 billion debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and now holds US$270 billion in reserves.
Flávio opened with a direct appeal to viewers, asking how long it has been since they put meat in the freezer. He called public debt of R$11 trillion (about US$2.2 trillion) a “negative record” and claimed his first-round lead had already pushed down future interest rates by 2%.
He promised to free up more than R$200 billion (about US$39.5 billion) in the federal budget, using the money to help the government pay down its own debt. He also pledged a debt-relief plan in which the state would buy debts from banks and freeze payments, Folha and Congresso em Foco reported. Correio Braziliense put the freeze at six months for individuals and one year for companies.
Lula pressed Flávio on whether he would copy Argentine President Javier Milei, known for deep spending cuts, asking whether he would “borrow Milei’s chainsaw”. Flávio did not answer directly and asked what Lula’s own model is. Lula replied that it is the one in which the economy grows and that has the largest social inclusion programme in the country’s history.
Currency conversions use the EODHD rate of 5.07 reais per US dollar on 18 October.
Work Week, Security and Corruption Charges
Flávio said he listened to voters and changed his mind on ending the 6×1 work schedule, under which many employees work six days and rest one. Lula answered that Flávio has never worked a regular job and does not know the world of work, Folha reported.
Public security opened the debate, with both candidates presenting plans against organised crime factions, NC News reported. The two then traded accusations over corruption cases, including the INSS pension-fraud scandal and the Banco Master affair, according to Congresso em Foco.
Poder360 and Correio Braziliense both headlined Lula’s direct appeal to Jair Bolsonaro, the former president and Flávio’s father. Jair Bolsonaro is in prison and cannot vote in this runoff, so the remark was aimed at his supporters. Poder360 quoted Lula as saying “I am better than your son”, and Correio Braziliense wrote “vote for me, you know your son” in its headline.
What It Means for US Readers
Brazilian stocks and the real trade again on Monday 19 October, the first session after the debate. Investors will watch the clash over spending, because Flávio promises tighter budgets while Lula promises to keep backing income distribution and small businesses.
For Washington, the two men offer different paths on trade and diplomacy, and both used the debate to attack the other’s foreign friendships. The Brazil election polls tracker shows whether the debate moves the race.
What Is Not Known
No poll published so far has measured how viewers judged the debate. Whether it changes votes, and in which direction, will only show in surveys over the coming days.
It is also unknown how many viewers watched, and how many undecided voters remain. The electoral court (TSE) will announce the official result after voting on Sunday 25 October.
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
What Prediction Markets Say
On Polymarket, an online prediction market, bettors give Flávio Bolsonaro a 78.6% chance of winning the 25 October runoff and Lula a 21.5% chance (18 October, 11:21 p.m. ET). The “Brazil Presidential Election” market has drawn about US$187.8 million in bets.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
Prediction markets · who wins the runoff
Implied chance of winning Brazil’s presidency on 25 October, from traders’ prices.
Polymarket
Flávio Bolsonaro 78.6% · Lula 21.5% (US$188 million traded)
Kalshi (regulated in the US by the CFTC)
Flávio Bolsonaro 80% · Lula 21%
As of 18 October, 11:20 pm ET (04:20 Lisbon), updated every 20 minutes. Prices are bets, not polls, and can move fast.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the first Brazil runoff debate?
Band TV hosted it on Sunday 18 October 2026, starting at about 7 p.m. ET in São Paulo. It was the first face-to-face meeting of Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro in the campaign.
What did Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro say about the economy?
Lula defended his record on investment-grade ratings, reserves and income distribution. Flávio criticised public debt and pledged to free up more than R$200 billion (about US$39.5 billion) in the budget.
When is the Brazil runoff election?
Brazilians vote on Sunday 25 October 2026, one week after the debate. The electoral court (TSE) announces the official result.
Who moderated the Band debate?
Journalists Adriana Araújo and Eduardo Oinegue moderated three blocks. The format included 30 minutes of open exchange between the candidates.
What is the 6×1 work schedule?
It is the rule under which many Brazilian employees work six days and rest one. Flávio said he changed his position on ending it after listening to voters.
Sources: Folha de S.Paulo, 18 October 2026; Congresso em Foco, 18 October 2026; NC News, 18 October 2026; Poder360; Correio Braziliense.
This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief