Full Breakdown
Lula Skips Final TV Debate as Rivals Make Last Appeal to Voters
By Drooid · · How we work
Final Debate Without the Incumbent
TV Globo will host its traditional end-of-campaign debate on Thursday, October 1, the last televised opportunity for candidates to address voters before the Sunday election. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, seeking an unprecedented fourth term, will not appear, opting instead for a simultaneous podcast appearance. Right-wing contenders—including Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, author-psychiatrist Augusto Cury, former Goiás governor Ronaldo Caiado, and former Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema—are slated to participate.
Declining Role of Televised Debates
Since Brazil’s return to democracy after the 1985 military dictatorship, televised presidential debates were a hallmark of the electoral process. Over recent cycles, leading candidates have increasingly avoided the stage, reducing the debates’ relevance. Lula’s refusal mirrors his earlier decision to skip the 2006 pre-first-round debate, a move that attracted criticism at the time.
Poll Landscape Ahead of the Vote
A Quaest survey released this week shows Lula leading with 39 % support for the first round, while Flávio Bolsonaro trails at 34 %. Minor candidates lag far behind: Ronaldo Caiado and Augusto Cury each at 4 %, Renan Santos at 3 %, and Romeu Zema at 1 %. In a simulated runoff, Lula and Bolsonaro are tied at 42 % each, underscoring the contest’s competitiveness.
Official Statements & Responses
Lula explained his abstention by arguing that a debate “isn’t helpful to the public” and would force him to “respond to trash talk.” He framed the decision as a refusal to engage in “nonsense.” Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, stated that Lula is his sole opponent and expressed a desire to debate him directly. Ronaldo Caiado publicly urged Lula’s participation, saying the debate should address “security and corruption,” issues he says worry Brazilians.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don't go to debates to listen to nonsense. If the debate isn't helpful to the public, why should I go just to respond to trash talk?” — Luiz Inacio Lula, place without president
- “I wanted Lula to go to the debate,” — Ronaldo Caiado, former goias governor