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this was the last face to face between ‘Lula’ and Bolsonaro

In the last confrontation before the presidential ballot in Brazil, which will take place this Sunday, October 30, ‘Lula’ da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro once again unloaded their arsenal of personal attacks and crossed accusations. A harsh, repetitive debate that marks the end of the televised electoral acts less than 48 hours before the more than 156 million Brazilian voters decide who they want to have in charge of the Executive for the next four years.

They walk from their lectern and address the cameras. Almost like actors in a staging, Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro follow their scripts, in which crossed accusations, questions and one word: “lie” predominate. The two candidates accused each other of attacking the truth in the last debate before the final elections on Sunday, October 30.

Everything seems to indicate that it will be a close ending, so two sought to whisper in the ear of the undecided, discrediting the management of their opponent as president. The fight against poverty, international relations, health, security, job creation and the environment were at the center of the dialectical dispute.

People watch a debate prior to the second round of elections between Brazil's president and re-election candidate Jair Bolsonaro and former president and current candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 28, 2022.
People watch a debate prior to the second round of elections between Brazil’s president and re-election candidate Jair Bolsonaro and former president and current candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 28, 2022. REUTERS – MARIANA GREIF

According to the most recent poll by ‘Datafolha’, ‘Lula’ would emerge victorious with 52% of the votes compared to 47% that Bolsonaro would obtain.

Although the two candidates jumped between issues, personal attacks prevailed over dialogue and their campaign promises. And both ‘Lula’ and Bolsonaro ignored, for most of the broadcast, the questions they asked each other.

Minimum wage and economic measures

The current president, Jair Bolsonaro, played the first card, when he referred to the minimum wage. He assured that if elected he would have a raise to 1,400 reais (about 265 dollars) and added that his government did everything possible to counteract the “world crisis.”

An affirmation that his contender questioned, assuring that there was no real increase during his four years in office, since it was not readjusted with respect to the inflation that affected the country.

Brazilian President and re-election candidate Jair Bolsonaro attends a presidential debate ahead of national elections, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2022.
Brazilian President and re-election candidate Jair Bolsonaro attends a presidential debate ahead of national elections, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2022. REUTERS – RICARDO MORAES

During that first discussion, the direct attacks of the two candidates began. ‘Lula’ blurted out: “It seems that my opponent is unbalanced”. And at the same time the two used the adjective “liar” to refer to their opposite.

In addition, Bolsonaro assured that during his administration multiple social programs were launched to favor the poorest people in the country. The current president referred to the Brazil Aid program. A controversial issue, which has been used as a campaign weapon by the far-right.

‘Lula’, for his part, said that it was absurd to compare these types of policies with those made during his government, affirming that during his two presidential periods a “set of public policies” was promoted. At the same time, he affirmed that it was in those years (2003-2010) that Brazil had the best economy.

“You isolated the country”: ‘Lula’ attacked Bolsonaro’s foreign policy

The Workers’ Party candidate claimed that the president did not know what foreign policy is during his term. On the contrary, he highlighted his management on an international scale.

“We carried out the most effective foreign policy in the world,” said ‘Lula’. The former president stressed that he was invited to all kinds of countries in the world and that Brazil was a benchmark for the rest of the world.

People watch a debate prior to the second round of elections between Brazil's president and re-election candidate Jair Bolsonaro and former president and current candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 28, 2022.
People watch a debate prior to the second round of elections between Brazil’s president and re-election candidate Jair Bolsonaro and former president and current candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 28, 2022. REUTERS – MARIANA GREIF

For his part, Bolsonaro assured that he negotiated with Russia, “the Arab world” and with the United States.

fight against poverty

‘Lula’ expressed his concern about the number of people who live in a “miserable” way in Brazil after his opponent’s administration. And he pointed out that when he was president there was a “propitious” moment to end poverty.

Some statements that were controversial by Bolsonaro, who cited the Research Institute of Applied Economics. According to the figures mentioned by the president, poverty in the country has decreased.

“There are people dying of hunger, but not the number you are saying,” Bolsonaro assured, addressing Lula.

Abortion amid accusations

The discussion about abortion raised the tone for the two candidates. Bolsonaro, who has been adamantly opposed to such procedures, called ‘Lula’ an “abortionist” and added that his opponent is “in favor of the liberation of drugs and gender ideology.”

For his part, ‘Lula’ cited some old statements by the current president in which he supposedly defended abortion pills.

Brazil's former president and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a presidential debate ahead of national elections, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2022.
Brazil’s former president and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a presidential debate ahead of national elections, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2022. © REUTERS – RICARDO MORAES

The former president sought to be more moderate on the issue than in previous campaigns. This time, ‘Lula’ has sought the vote of Catholics and evangelists.

Health: ‘Lula’ attacks and Bolsonaro defends himself

‘Lula’ brought to the scene the issue of health in Brazil. And he ruled that the country has “3% of the world population and 11% of deaths from Covid-19 in the world.” And he added: “Many lost their lives due to the irresponsible behavior of the President of the Republic.”

In addition, he pointed out that the president was negligent in handling the pandemic and that he did not act in time.

Bolsonaro denied all the accusations, assuring that during his mandate Brazil was a benchmark for vaccination. He also referred to figures, noting that his government bought more than 500 million doses against the virus. “If you had the vaccine, ‘Lula,’ you have to thank me,” the president told his opponent.

The former trade unionist responded with laughter and affirmed that the deaths in the country will weigh on the conscience of Bolsonaro, whom he accused of not having gone to visit any patient or person who lost a family member.

Brazil's former president and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a presidential debate ahead of national elections, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2022.
Brazil’s former president and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a presidential debate ahead of national elections, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 28, 2022. © REUTERS – RICARDO MORAES

Bolsonaro defended himself by saying that his opponent invested more money in stadiums than in hospitals.

Bolsonaro boasts of “security” in his mandate

“Violence with me has decreased a lot, in his mandate it only increased,” said Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who also questioned the handling of the PT candidate with respect to the leaders of criminal organizations. It was a mistake, he said, not to have transferred them to maximum security federal prisons.

For his part, ‘Lula’ pointed out that his government had implemented “the largest disarmament campaign in the country’s history.” In addition, he took the opportunity to criticize Bolsonaro’s policy regarding the carrying of weapons.

The issue of violence against women also entered the debate. According to ‘Lula’, Bolsonaro cut programs to combat these crimes.

The president responded: “Violence against women has decreased under my government. Femicide has decreased.

For his part, the leftist assured that as president he took care of women, a situation that, he pointed out, he did not see during the years of Bolsonaro’s mandate.

The heated debate on the environment

The Amazon was one of the last points touched by the two candidates. And also one in which ‘Lula’ harshly attacked Bolsonaro. The former president referred to increasing deforestation in recent years. Again, Bolsonaro defended himself and mentioned some of his environmental policies.

‘Lula’, promised that he will put an end to the fires, the invasion of indigenous territories and will fight illegal logging. All this if this Sunday manages to make sure the polls are not wrong.

With EFE and local media

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