Lula skips Globo debate, which TV Globo then cancels, days before Brazil's election
President Lula did not attend TV Globo's final presidential debate before Sunday's first round and appeared on a podcast instead. Al Jazeera reports the debate was then cancelled after rival Flavio Bolsonaro also withdrew.
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The story, neutrally told
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva did not take part in TV Globo's traditional end-of-campaign debate on Thursday 1 October, days before the first round of the presidential election on Sunday 4 October. The Straits TimesRC “The event, however, will take place without President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has skipped all debates this year as he seeks an unprecedented fourth term.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Al JazeeraLC “Lula, instead of taking part in the debate, opted to appear on a popular podcast with millions of YouTube subscribers” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Reuters, carried by The Straits Times, reported before the event that Lula had skipped all debates this year, and had not attended the last debate before the first round of his 2006 re-election campaign, a decision that drew widespread criticism at the time. The Straits TimesRC “Lula, who is running for president for the seventh time, also declined to participate in the last debate before the first round of his 2006 reelection campaign, a decision that drew widespread criticism at the time.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Lula said in July: "I don't go to debates to listen to nonsense." Rivals accuse him of dodging scrutiny of his administration. The Straits TimesRC “"I don't go to debates to listen to nonsense. If the debate isn't helpful to the public, why should I go just to respond to trash talk?" Lula said in July.”“Rivals have accused Lula of dodging scrutiny over his administration.” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Before the debate, Reuters said his main challenger, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, had confirmed he would attend. Bolsonaro had said earlier in the week: "My only opponent in this campaign is Lula. He's the one I want to debate." Two debates on other networks had already been cancelled after both men declined to attend. The Straits TimesRC “This time, however, Flavio Bolsonaro has confirmed he will participate in Thursday's debate”“Two debates on other networks were canceled after both declined to attend.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Al Jazeera reports that Bolsonaro then withdrew, saying in a live broadcast on his social media channels that the reason was "censorship imposed by the electoral court". He was referring to a decision that barred the broadcaster from keeping Lula's empty seat on stage. Al JazeeraLC “Bolsonaro, son of the former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, said during a live broadcast on Thursday on his social media channels that his decision not to participate in the debate was due to “censorship imposed by the electoral court”.”“The right-wing candidate was referring to a decision that barred the debate broadcaster from keeping President Lula’s empty seat on stage.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ TV Globo said it cancelled the debate because two rulings, one from the electoral court and one from the Supreme Court, had created "legal uncertainty" about the event. Al JazeeraLC “TV Globo said in a statement that the debate was cancelled because two rulings, one from the country’s electoral court and the other from the Supreme Court, had created “legal uncertainty” about the event.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Lula, 80, leads the polls for the first round. A Quaest survey this week put him at 39% against 34% for Bolsonaro, with Ronaldo Caiado and Augusto Cury at 4% each, Renan Santos at 3% and Romeu Zema at 1%. The two were tied at 42% each in a simulated runoff, and a runoff would be held on 25 October. The Straits TimesRC “A Quaest survey this week showed Lula with 39% support for the first round and Bolsonaro with 34%, followed a long way behind by Caiado (4%), Cury (4%), Renan Santos (3%) and Zema (1%). Lula and Bolsonaro were seen tied at 42% each in a simulated runoff.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Al JazeeraLC “The pair are neck and neck in projections for a potential runoff on October 25, however.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Caiado wrote on social media that he had wanted Lula at the debate to discuss security and corruption. The Straits TimesRC “"I wanted Lula to go to the debate," Caiado wrote on social media.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Separately on Thursday, police ruled out a bomb threat outside the Supreme Court. The court said a suspect who tried to jump its fences threw a backpack on top of a bus stop. A military police spokesperson told AFP the backpack held only personal belongings, and the suspect remains in custody. Al JazeeraLC “A suspect who “tried to jump the court’s fences” and “threw a backpack on top of a bus stop” had been arrested, the court said in a statement.”“The suspect will remain in custody while the investigation continues, he added.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Al Jazeera adds that the political right has criticised the Supreme Court, notably over the 2025 conviction of former president Jair Bolsonaro for a coup plot. It also says the court is caught up in a fraud scandal that has dominated the final weeks of the campaign. Al JazeeraLC “The Supreme Court has been criticised by the political right, notably for the 2025 conviction of ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro over a coup plot.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Al Jazeera leads on the debate's collapse, with both frontrunners snubbing it, and pairs it with the Supreme Court bomb scare. It places the judiciary in the context of right-wing criticism.
- Emphasis
- The electoral court ruling, TV Globo's 'legal uncertainty' statement, the police ruling out a bomb threat and the Supreme Court's controversies.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Lula's past debate skipping or his July remarks, nor the Quaest poll figures.
- Charged language
- “snubbed”“censorship”
- For example
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“Brazilian president and opposition candidate snub the final debate ahead of the presidential election.” — Al Jazeera
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Straits Times, running a Reuters wire report before the event, frames Lula's absence as a pattern of avoiding debates and scrutiny as he seeks a fourth term.
- Emphasis
- Lula's record of skipping debates, rivals' criticism, his July quote and the Quaest poll numbers.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Written before the cancellation, so it does not cover the court rulings, Bolsonaro's withdrawal or the bomb scare.
- Charged language
- “trash talk”“dodging scrutiny”
- For example
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“has avoided sharing the stage with a field dominated by right-wing candidates who could concentrate their attacks on him” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Lula did not attend the TV Globo debate and chose a podcast appearance instead.
- The first round is on Sunday, with Lula leading Flavio Bolsonaro in polls and the two close in a likely runoff.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Flavio Bolsonaro took part in the debate
- Left
- Al Jazeera says Bolsonaro also snubbed the debate, citing electoral court 'censorship', and TV Globo cancelled it.
- Right
- Reuters, carried by The Straits Times before the event, said Bolsonaro had confirmed he would attend and the debate would go ahead without Lula.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva person
Lula has said debates are not useful to the public and chose a podcast appearance over the Globo debate.
“Lula instead plans to appear on a podcast at the same time.” — The Straits Times
“If the debate isn't helpful to the public, why should I go just to respond to trash talk?” — The Straits Times
Left1 article
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Election debate cancelled in Brazil, bomb scare outside Supreme Court
Neutral Reports both frontrunners snubbing the debate, its cancellation and the Supreme Court bomb scare, including Bolsonaro's 'censorship' claim.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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The Straits TimesRC · · via Reuters
Brazil's Lula skips final TV debate as rivals make last appeal to voters
Neutral Reuters wire copy written before the event: previews the debate, stressing Lula's pattern of skipping debates and rivals' criticism.
- 1 Oct 15:53 First The Straits TimesRC Brazil's Lula skips final TV debate as rivals make last appeal to voters via Reuters
- 2 Oct 07:09 +15h 17m Al JazeeraLC Election debate cancelled in Brazil, bomb scare outside Supreme Court
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.