Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro traded a barrage of personal attacks during their first televised debate on Sunday, one week before a tightly contested presidential run-off scheduled for October 25.
The two candidates called each other "liar" multiple times, accused each other of corruption, and clashed over issues ranging from public security to healthcare in what observers described as a chaotic exchange.
Lula called Bolsonaro "a habitual liar" and a "thug", and physically distanced himself on stage from the candidate he labelled a "militiaman", alluding to alleged ties to Rio de Janeiro's paramilitary groups. Bolsonaro, who led the first round with 47 percent to Lula's 45 percent, responded by saying it was better to keep Lula at a distance "because my wallet could be stolen."
Throughout the debate, Bolsonaro, 45, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, paced behind Lula, shaking his head, smirking and scoffing as his adversary spoke. He called Lula a "clown" and raised a potential corruption case involving one of the president's sons.
The 80-year-old Lula, who is seeking a fourth presidential term, demanded an explanation regarding a corruption investigation involving the elder Bolsonaro. His opponent dodged the question.
Cost of living and public spending dominated much of the debate. Flavio Bolsonaro accused Lula of "reckless spending" to secure re-election, pointing to social measures announced during the campaign. Lula countered by pressing Bolsonaro on whether he planned to replicate the drastic spending cuts implemented by Argentina's President Javier Milei. Bolsonaro repeatedly avoided the question and pivoted to other topics.
When the elder Bolsonaro's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was raised, Flavio Bolsonaro acknowledged it directly. "This wasn't an area where we saw the best results during Bolsonaro's presidency. I'll offer a mea culpa here," he said.
Lula sought to portray his opponent as out of touch with ordinary Brazilians, saying Bolsonaro had never used the country's public healthcare system or ridden a bus. "My opponent only knows about buses from books. He has never even stepped foot on one. He has no idea what the world of work is like," Lula said.
Jair Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest while serving a 27-year sentence connected to efforts to overturn the 2022 presidential election, which he lost to Lula.
Also on Sunday, Brazil's federal police asked the Supreme Court to open an investigation into Flavio Bolsonaro over a money laundering accusation involving a lawyer close to him. The candidate is already under investigation for his alleged links to Daniel Vorcaro, a disgraced former banker who financed a film about Jair Bolsonaro's life.
Lula himself spent 580 days in prison in 2018 and 2019 on a corruption conviction that was later annulled due to flaws in the investigation and legal proceedings.
Ahead of Sunday's debate, supporters of both candidates gathered in large numbers across the country. Pro-Bolsonaro crowds wearing Brazil's national colours of yellow, green and blue packed Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo's financial district, where the candidate addressed the rally. Lula supporters wearing red, the colour of his Workers' Party, filled the plaza of government buildings in Brasilia, while students backing the president staged protests against Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro.
"We need the current government to remain in power. If another government comes in, we're, excuse my language, screwed," said Lula supporter Sonia Maria at the Brasilia rally.
"I don't like bandits. Out with Lula!" said Bolsonaro backer Vera de Sousa in Sao Paulo.
