A corrupt president who delivers his country to narco-terrorists or a militia man who sells out Brazilian interests to the US. Accusations flew back and forth in the first TV debate ahead of the elections this Sunday between President Lula (80) of Brazil and his challenger Flávio Bolsonaro (45).
The two are locked in a neck-and-neck race for the favor of the Brazilian voter. Bolsonaro surprisingly won the first round of the elections narrowly earlier this month and is also slightly ahead in the polls now. Much was therefore at stake for both men and the debate quickly became fierce and personal.
"Lula, under you crime has increased enormously. How do you explain that 73 percent of the prisoners voted for you?" Bolsonaro wanted to know from the president. He responded with a reference to Bolsonaro's father Jair, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for a coup attempt and is now under house arrest: "If only it had been 100 percent, including your father. Then he would have voted for the better man."
Economy and security
Due to the mudslinging, the policy plans of both candidates receded somewhat into the background during the two hours they spoke. Lula said he had twice managed to turn around a faltering economy of his predecessors. "I know what is needed to make this country grow," he promised. "They want to privatize 95 percent of all Brazilian state companies, I want strong, productive companies in government hands."
Bolsonaro said he wanted to tackle crime more strictly. "If you now live in a favela, in a poor neighborhood, how much would you want to live without that oppression?" he wondered. "I take public safety seriously, because it should be the criminals who are afraid to walk the streets."
In addition, Bolsonaro attacked the president on the high cost of living. "Is food more expensive or cheaper? When was the last time you had a piece of meat in the fridge?"
'Interests sold out'
Lula tried to portray Bolsonaro in turn as an American puppet who delivers his country to Trump, previously a close ally of his father Jair when he was president. "The Brazilian people surely know that the Bolsonaros align themselves with American interests. That is obvious."
Bolsonaro countered that under Lula criminal gangs actually run the show and support from the US is therefore appreciated. He promised to declare drug gangs narco-terrorists and to build half a million more prison cells.
Accusations such as liar and thief flew back and forth:
The loose format of the debate encouraged confrontations. The moderators took a reserved stance and the candidates were allowed to move freely across the stage, which regularly led to direct confrontations. "Not so close," Lula warned Bolsonaro irritably when he came too close. "Calm down, I'm not aggressive," he replied.
"I want some distance, with all those militia men in the Bolsonaro family," Lula continued reproachfully, to which Bolsonaro snapped at the president: "Luckily I left my wallet at home, then you can't rob me."
To make his accusations of corruption land even more, Bolsonaro had the word written on his hand, corruPTo, with the PT of Lula's party framed. Lula spent almost a year and a half in prison before his corruption conviction was overturned by a biased judge.
Lula proposed to jointly give full transparency about their finances and phone data, "so that the Brazilian people can see who the thieves are in this country." Bolsonaro responded that he had nothing to hide but did not further engage with his opponent's proposal.
On Friday there will be a second debate between the two men, two days before Brazil goes to the polls on Sunday.