Politics
Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro trade "corrupt" and "clown" insults in first runoff debate
October 19, 2026 at 03:56 AM · Updated 43m ago
3 reports · 2 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 2 hours
Brazilian President Lula da Silva and conservative challenger Flavio Bolsonaro traded insults in their first direct debate one week before the presidential runoff.
- The two faced off Sunday in a debate broadcast from Band TV's studio in São Paulo.
- Bolsonaro led the October 4 first round with 47% of votes to Lula's 45%.
- Bolsonaro displayed the word "corrupt" on his palm, referencing Lula's annulled corruption conviction.
- Lula called him "a born liar and thug" and a "clown," and invoked jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, serving 27 years for an attempted coup.
- The candidates also clashed on public security, healthcare and public spending during the Sunday showdown.
- A second debate is scheduled for October 23, after both candidates had declined previous opportunities.



