Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro trade blows over economy and crime in final debate

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro met in Rio de Janeiro on Friday for the final televised debate of the Brazilian presidential campaign. The two candidates focused their exchanges on fiscal policy, infrastructure, and regional development. The event aired on TV Globo and served as the last major public showdown before the Sunday runoff.

Lula criticized his opponent's plan to slash public spending, comparing Bolsonaro's approach to the economic reforms of Argentine President Javier Milei. Bolsonaro countered by arguing that Milei's success validates his own strategy. "I'll have the same job here [as Milei in Argentina] because you're leaving the country bankrupt," Bolsonaro said.

The senator accused the incumbent of allowing organized crime to expand and failing to control the cost of living. Lula, who served as a metalworker before entering politics, responded with personal attacks. "He doesn't know what hunger is," Lula said. He added that the challenger lacks experience, declaring, "He doesn't know Brazil." Bolsonaro maintained that he represents a necessary change in leadership.

Tensions rose when Bolsonaro referred to Lula as "Nine Fingers," a nickname referencing a work accident that left the president missing parts of one hand. The 80-year-old incumbent demanded an apology, which Bolsonaro subsequently offered. The exchange highlighted the personal friction between the two men, even as the debate remained more diplomatic than their first meeting on Sunday.

A Datafolha survey published on Thursday places the race in a dead heat. The new data shows both candidates tied at 50 percent. This result erases the four-point lead that Bolsonaro held in polls released two weeks earlier. Bolsonaro finished first in the initial round of voting on October 4, capturing 47 percent of the vote compared to Lula's 45 percent.

The candidates are scheduled to hold final campaign rallies in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo ahead of the vote. Both men will address supporters on the streets in an effort to mobilize their bases for the decisive Sunday election.