Brazil election: Lula and Bolsonaro moderate final debate
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on L’essentiel
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his rival Flávio Bolsonaro moderated their exchanges during their final televised debate before the second round, scheduled for Sunday. The two candidates notably compared their plans for the economy, security and healthcare, AFP reports.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his conservative rival Flávio Bolsonaro adopted a more measured tone during their final televised debate on Friday evening, two days before the second round of the presidential election, reports AFP. The two candidates set out their plans on the economy, security and healthcare on TV Globo, after a first debate marked by insults.
Tense exchanges nevertheless persisted. Flávio Bolsonaro accused Lula of leaving the country « ruined » and of taking back part of the increases in the minimum wage through taxes. Lula criticised his inexperience and referred to his alleged links with paramilitary criminal groups in Rio de Janeiro. The right-wing candidate apologised after a remark about the outgoing president’s disability.
Flávio Bolsonaro won 47% of the vote in the first round on 4 October, compared with 45% for Lula. A Datafolha poll published on Thursday put the two candidates level, with 50% of voting intentions each. The debate came after the mutual appeals launched by Lula and Bolsonaro and polls showing Flávio Bolsonaro narrowly ahead.
