Lula, Bolsonaro to face off in first debate of bruising election

After a day of energetic rallies by their supporters, Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro will go head-to-head Sunday in their first debate, a week ahead of a bitter and divisive presidential runoff.

Brazil's right-wing presidential candidate and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro (C) speaks during a press conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on August 30, 2026. (Photo by Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP)

Bolsonaro, 45, son of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro, secured a shock first-round lead over Lula earlier this month, defying poll predictions.

The televised debate on Sunday evening is expected to be pivotal in an election race marked by scandals and insults that is likely to go down to the wire.

Ahead of the showdown, tens of thousands of supporters of Flavio Bolsonaro gathered along Sao Paulo's Paulista Avenue.

Source: Citizen Digital