Brazil cancels debate after Lula and Bolsonaro refuse to take part — Asharq Al-Awsat
Brazil cancelled the final election debate ahead of the first round of the presidential election on Sunday. Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his rival, Senator and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, refused to take part in the program, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
Reasons for refusal
Lula instead appeared on a popular podcast with millions of subscribers on YouTube. Some commentators viewed the president's decision to skip the debate as an attempt to avoid criticism from other participants who do not belong to the left-wing political camp.
Bolsonaro withdrew from the debate on Thursday, accusing the electoral court of censorship. The court prohibited organizers from leaving an empty space on stage intended to represent the absent Lula and also barred participants from addressing him during their speeches. After Bolsonaro's withdrawal, the program was cancelled.
Disputes during the campaign
The campaign has been accompanied by mutual accusations, including a dispute over the status of Our Lady of Aparecida, Brazil's patroness. Lula mentioned rumors that Bolsonaro would strip her of this status if he wins. The electoral court ordered the removal from social media of posts it described as “clearly false.” Bolsonaro denied such intentions and called the reports fake.
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According to polls, Lula has a slight lead over the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro in the first round. At the same time, forecasts for a possible second round on October 25 show the candidates with nearly equal support.
Statements regarding the United States
Lula is campaigning on a promise to defend Brazil's sovereignty from U.S. interference. U.S. President Donald Trump said he is closely following the election. Attorney General Jorge Messias requested an investigation into claims that the White House may have used public funds to promote an ultra-right agenda in Brazil.
The request followed a publication by The Guardian, which claimed that Washington allegedly planned to allocate $1 million to civil society groups opposing Brazil's Supreme Court.
