Lula and Bolsonaro face off in first debate as Brazil braces for bitter runoff

Rio de Janeiro, October 19 – The first presidential debate between Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will occur this week, a week before a contentious runoff election. Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, leads in the polls, edging out Lula after two recent polls showed 51% support for Bolsonaro and 49% for Lula.

The upcoming televised debate is anticipated to be a decisive moment in an election fraught with scandals and insults, likely to be decided by a narrow margin. Tens of thousands of supporters of both candidates gathered in cities across Brazil, with supporters of Lula in Sao Paulo chanting "Come back, Bolsonaro!" and those in Rio de Janeiro forming human representations of Lula's name.

President Lula, 81 years old, has enlisted young leftist influencers to advise on his digital campaign and has unveiled several campaign promises, including debt forgiveness, university scholarships, and the reduction of fuel taxes. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro has emphasized his stance on crime and his intention to free his jailed father from prison.