Bolsonaro and Lula clash on living costs and graft in final Brazil election debate

Brazilian rightwing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro and leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking reelection, attend a televised debate ahead of the presidential election runoff in Rio de Janeiro, on Friday. | REUTERS

Reuters

Oct 24, 2026

Sao Paolo – Brazilian Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sparred over the cost of living and traded personal attacks on Friday in the last presidential debate before Sunday’s runoff, as both candidates sought to win over undecided voters amid a tight race.

Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, led Lula in the first round of the election earlier this month, but opinion polls have shown the two candidates about even this week after the gap between them narrowed.

Bolsonaro and Lula repeated their campaign proposals during the over two-hour debate hosted by Globo, Brazil’s most-watched TV channel, focusing on themes such as the cost of living, welfare and security, while exchanging allegations of corruption.

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