Lula accuses Bolsonaro of “licking Trump’s boots” in the final debate
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday accused his runoff rival, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, of “licking the boots” of US President Donald Trump during the last televised debate before Sunday’s election.
Brazil's presidential frontrunner Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized his runoff opponent, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, for allegedly "licking the boots" of U.S. President Donald Trump in their final televised debate ahead of Sunday's election. Lula defended himself against accusations that Bolsonaro had orchestrated Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Brazilian imports, asserting that he would seek alternative markets if the U.S. elected to purchase elsewhere.
During the TV Globo debate, Lula highlighted Brazil's surge in exports during his tenure, noting the country has never before shipped as much as it currently does.
In contrast, Bolsonaro accused Lula of "massacring" the farming sector through high interest rates and questioned his treatment of the agricultural industry. The former president emphasized that Lula had recently advocated for farmers to "kneel" before him for his administration's investments. Lula countered that Bolsonaro merely memorized facts without learning and that agriculture received more support during his administration compared to his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, the candidate's father.
The first-round presidential vote resulted in Bolsonaro securing 47.03% of the vote, while Lula garnered 45.16%. The latest Datafolha poll indicates the two candidates are now tied, with each receiving 50% of valid votes.
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