Lula, Bolsonaro hold calmer debate before Brazil election
Summary
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing rival Flavio Bolsonaro traded barbs in a calmer televised debate two days before Brazil’s runoff election. A new Datafolha survey showed the two candidates tied at 50 percent of voting intentions each.
Key Points
- Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro debated more diplomatically than in their previous encounter, though they still exchanged sharp attacks.
- The candidates focused on Brazil’s economy, infrastructure and regional development, with Lula criticizing Bolsonaro’s spending plans and Bolsonaro attacking Lula on crime and living costs.
- A Datafolha poll published Thursday showed both candidates tied at 50 percent of voting intentions.
- The runoff election is only two days away, and the race appears tightly contested after Bolsonaro had earlier led by four points.
