São Paulo, Brazil — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro faced off Friday in their second and final debate ahead of Sunday’s presidential runoff election, seeking to win over the remaining undecided voters in a closely contested race.
The debate, broadcast by TV Globo, Brazil’s most popular television network, lasted two hours and gave both candidates an opportunity to present their plans and challenge their opponent directly. The encounter was notably calmer than their previous debate on TV Band five days earlier, when the two exchanged sharp accusations and personal attacks.
Friday’s debate, held in Rio de Janeiro, featured several tense moments as the candidates sought to strengthen their positions ahead of the final vote.
One of the most contentious exchanges came when Flávio Bolsonaro, the 45-year-old son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, referred to Lula as “nine fingers,” a derogatory nickname used by some of his supporters. The term refers to an industrial accident Lula suffered while working as a metalworker, which resulted in the loss of a finger.
The 80-year-old president demanded an apology, arguing that the expression was disrespectful to workers who suffer workplace injuries.
“He will have to apologize. Because the working people are watching. Millions of workers suffer accidents due to employer irresponsibility,” Lula said, adding that he had been underage and working at night when his accident occurred.
Flávio Bolsonaro subsequently apologized for the remark.
“Lula, if I offended you by calling you ‘nine-fingers,’ I truly apologize. I didn’t mean to offend you,” the senator said.
Another tense moment emerged when Lula accused Bolsonaro of being a vigilante, referring to groups linked to police officers that operate in poor communities in Rio de Janeiro. These groups, commonly described as militias, have been associated with territorial control and criminal activities in parts of the city.
Bolsonaro responded by saying he would classify such groups as “narcoterrorists,” shifting the discussion toward his proposed approach to tackling organized crime and violence.
“I will not allow a vigilante to call me nine fingers,” Lula said during the exchange.
The debate’s moderators granted Bolsonaro additional time to respond to Lula’s accusation. However, rather than directly addressing the president’s criticism, the senator chose to discuss another subject.
With the presidential runoff approaching, both candidates used the final televised debate to appeal to voters who had yet to make up their minds. The encounter provided a last major opportunity for Lula and Bolsonaro to communicate their positions directly to the electorate before Sunday’s vote.
The election has drawn significant attention as Brazil prepares to decide its next political direction, with the candidates facing pressure to persuade undecided voters in the final hours of campaigning.
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