Key facts
- Candidates clashed over living costs, welfare, security, and corruption allegations.
- Lula defended minimum wage increases and efforts to reduce hunger.
- Bolsonaro criticized Lula's tax reform, projecting increased consumer tax burden.
- Lula and Bolsonaro linked each other to alleged fraud involving lender Banco Master.
Brazilian presidential candidates Flavio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva engaged in sharp exchanges over living costs and corruption allegations during their final debate on Friday, just days before Sunday's runoff election. The debate, hosted by Globo, saw both candidates reiterate their campaign platforms while trading personal insults and accusations.
Lula, seeking a fourth term, highlighted his administration's minimum wage increases and anti-hunger initiatives. Bolsonaro, whose father Jair Bolsonaro led in the first round, criticized Lula's tax reform, predicting it would increase consumer taxes. The candidates also accused each other of corruption, with Lula pressing Bolsonaro on alleged ties to a jailed banker and Bolsonaro questioning Lula about his son's alleged involvement in pension fraud.
The debate marked one of the final campaign events before electoral law prohibits radio and TV campaign advertising.