Personal attacks fire up debate before Brazil’s run-off vote

Brazil’s presidential run-off candidates, incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, traded personal attacks in a televised debate a week before voting. With polls indicating a close race, analysts said the hostile tone and lack of policy discussion could leave undecided voters with a negative impression and contribute to higher abstention.

Bolsonaro won 47% in the first round on 4 October, ahead of Lula’s 45.2%; neither secured the majority needed to avoid a run-off. The candidates are due to debate again on Friday, two days before polls open. Their exchanges included accusations about corruption, crime and alleged links to paramilitary groups, which Bolsonaro has denied; Lula also challenged Bolsonaro to disclose financial and phone records for judicial scrutiny.