Brazil: Bolsonaro, Lula Exchange Barbs In First Debate
On Sun., Brazil's Pres. Jair Bolsonaro and the country's former Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva traded accusations while taking part in a heated televised debate ahead of the country's general election.
Facts
- On Sun., Brazil's Pres. Jair Bolsonaro and the country's former Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva traded accusations while taking part in a heated televised debate ahead of the country's general election.
- While Pres. Bolsonaro deemed Lula's eight-year term "the most corrupt government in Brazil's history," the former Pres. claimed that Bolsonaro was "destroying the country."
- Alongside the two frontrunners, Ciro Gomes, Felipe D'Ávila, Simone Tebet, and Soraya Thronicke also attended the 3-hour event organized by a press pool.
- A wide range of issues was discussed, including the economy, climate change, and the response to the COVID pandemic. Questioned by a female journalist about the latter, Bolsonaro launched personal attacks on her.
- The most recent survey, released on Mon. morning, gives Lula a 7-point lead in the first round and a 13-point advantage in the event of a second round.
- 156.4M Brazilians are entitled to cast their votes in the upcoming elections, which will take place on Oct. 2. A possible run-off is scheduled for Oct. 30 if none of the candidates get 50% of the valid votes.
Sources: BBC News, FT, Folha, CNN, Bloomberglinea, and Agencia Brasil.
Narratives
- Left narrative, as provided by The Guardian. Bolsonaro's disastrous term has changed the minds of the Brazilian voters who elected him in 2018. He has systemically threatened democracy by gathering support within the armed forces, attacking the Supreme Court, and baselessly claiming the election could be rigged. If he stays in office, not only would democracy be endangered, but so would the Amazon rainforest.
- Cynical narrative, as provided by The Washington Post. Although the Brazilian electoral dispute between a vengeful left and a toxic right will be hyped as a turning point for the nation, whoever takes office will have to deal with the hyper-fragmented party system that only benefits the "Centrão", or the "Big Middle" – the congressional majority without clear principles that has historically been able to control presidents.
