Lula remark on medical exams sparks controversy five days before the vote

A remark made by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva regarding men's reluctance to undergo prostate exams has sparked controversy in the closing stages of his re-election campaign. Opposition figures have linked his comments to child sexual abuse. The campaign has filed a complaint with the Superior Electoral Court over the matter.

On Monday, during an event in Belém, the capital of Pará state, Lula addressed the issue following the country's first robotic prostate surgery conducted through the public health system. He stated, "Men don't like to have the prostate test. They don't like the touch. Women learn to receive touch from a young age. Men don't, they're full of hang-ups. They don't know that when they get prostate cancer, they'll be touched a lot."

Lula referenced his mother's passing from cancer during his speech. The Liberal Party's deputy, Nikolas Ferreira, responded on the social media platform X, saying, "A little girl doesn't learn to receive any touch, Lula!" Other party members echoed the criticism, and messages connecting his remarks to the abuse of minors began circulating on the platform.

Lula's coalition filed an action with the Superior Electoral Court on Tuesday, accusing Ferreira of attributing a sexual connotation to his statement. The campaign argues that the president was discussing public health and contrasting male hesitance to prostate exams with routine gynecological check-ups that women undergo from puberty.

The presidential election in Brazil is scheduled for Sunday, October 4.