Follow-Up: Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro Clash Over Crime, Probes and the Economy in First Runoff TV Debate
SAO PAULO — Brazil's first presidential runoff television debate was held on the evening of October 18 at the Band studios in Sao Paulo, pitting President Lula against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro over security, investigations touching both camps and economic policy. According to Brazilian media reports, the debate began at 8 p.m. local time and ran about two hours; the runoff vote is set for October 25. In the first round, Flavio Bolsonaro took about 47% and Lula about 45%, leaving roughly 33 million first-round non-voters as the prize both campaigns are courting.
On crime, Flavio Bolsonaro pledged to “declare war on narco-terrorism” from next January, proposing that gangs such as PCC and Comando Vermelho, along with militias, be designated “narco-terrorist organizations” to enable tougher enforcement. Lula replied that his government is fighting organized crime and that sentences have been increased on his watch.
Each man pressed the other over investigations. Flavio Bolsonaro raised the INSS pension-deduction probe involving Lula's son Fabio Luis and lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger; Lula said “Roberta is a matter for the Federal Police” and that his government would investigate anyone, including his own son. Lula in turn demanded an accounting for 134 million reais he linked to former banker Daniel Vorcaro of the Banco Master case, alleging the money helped fund a film about Jair Bolsonaro and flowed to a fund controlled by a lawyer linked to Eduardo Bolsonaro. Flavio Bolsonaro did not directly explain the funds during the debate. All of the above are allegations and responses exchanged in the debate, not findings by any court.
Flavio Bolsonaro also attacked Lula over his annulled convictions; Lula called him a “miliciano” (militiaman) and said he would lose senatorial immunity after the runoff and face advancing investigations; Flavio Bolsonaro answered, “you don't need to fear me.” On the economy, Lula mocked his rival's alignment with Argentine President Milei's austerity program, and the two also clashed over prisoners' voting rights, maternity-leave records and health care. (GSM, based on Brazilian media reports)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 参议员 Flávio Bolsonaro（左，黄领带）在联邦参议院出席记者会（资料图）。照片：Agência Senado，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。Senator Flavio Bolsonaro (left, yellow tie) at a Senate press conference (file photo). Photo: Agencia Senado, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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