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(https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DSocialMedia%26at_campaign%3DFacebook%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with Facebook)      (https://x.com/intent/tweet?source=webclient&text=Brazil%3A%20Lula%2C%20Bolsonaro%20clash%20in%20heated%20presidential%20debate+https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DSocialMedia%26at_campaign%3DTwitter%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with X / Twitter)      (Show more apps)     (https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DSocialMedia%26at_campaign%3DReddit%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with Reddit)   (mailto:?body=https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DWebmails%26at_campaign%3DEmail%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb&subject=Brazil%3A%20Lula%2C%20Bolsonaro%20clash%20in%20heated%20presidential%20debate) (External link — share this page with EMail)   (fb-messenger://share/?link=https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DMessenger%26at_campaign%3DFacebookMessenger%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with Facebook messenger)   (whatsapp://send?text=Brazil%3A%20Lula%2C%20Bolsonaro%20clash%20in%20heated%20presidential%20debate%20-%20https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DMessenger%26at_campaign%3DWhatsApp%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with Whatsapp)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DMessenger%26at_campaign%3DTelegram%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb&text=Brazil%3A%20Lula%2C%20Bolsonaro%20clash%20in%20heated%20presidential%20debate) (External link — share this page with Telegram)   (https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DSocialMedia%26at_campaign%3DLinkedIn%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb&title=Brazil%3A%20Lula%2C%20Bolsonaro%20clash%20in%20heated%20presidential%20debate&source=DW.COM) (External link — share this page with Linkedin)   (sms:?&body=https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0%3Fat_medium%3DSMS%26at_campaign%3DSMS%26at_share_source%3DSharingButton%26at_origin%3DWeb) (External link — share this page with SMS)    https://p.dw.com/p/5OOQ0         (Brazilian presidential candidates Flavio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva take part in a presidential debate) (Brazilian presidential candidates Flavio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva take part in a presidential debate)   In a tense moment, Lula challenged Bolsonaro for both of them to open their personal finances to scrutinyImage: Jean Carniel/REUTERS    Advertisement     (https://www.dw.com/en/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/t-63309325) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and populist Senator Flavio Bolsonaro on Sunday had a heated exchange during their first face-to-face presidential debate. The televised debate, which saw the candidates trade insults and accusations, came a week before the (https://www.dw.com/en/brazils-elections-matter-for-the-planet-this-is-why/a-79659928) October 25 presidential runoff . Bolsonaro finished nearly two points ahead of Lula in the (https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-election-bolsonaro-and-lula-head-to-runoff/a-79533857) election's first round earlier this month.   How did the presidential debate turn heated? The contentious debate focused on the economy, public security, corruption and Brazil's relations with the United States, before it devolved into personal attacks. Bolsonaro criticized Lula over the cost of living, public security and social spending, accusing him of spending recklessly (https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-to-shorten-workweek-in-win-for-lula-ahead-of-runoff/a-79664991) to secure re-election . Lula called Bolsonaro "a habitual liar, a thug," alluding to his alleged ties to Rio de Janeiro's paramilitary groups. "Lying is ​the Bolsonaro family's strong suit," Lula said. (https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-flavio-bolsonaro-faces-corruption-probe-weeks-before-election/a-79242561) Bolsonaro retaliated by accusing Lula of being tainted by corruption, saying during the debate that it was better he maintains a distance "because my wallet could be stolen." "Brazil is going to retire you," Bolsonaro told Lula. Meanwhile, Lula also brought up the populist Senator's (https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-denies-entry-to-senior-trump-officials-ahead-of-elections/a-78117458) ties to US President Donald Trump . "It is striking how the Bolsonaro family is subservient to American interests," said Lula, accusing Bolsonaro of conspiring to "hand over" Brazil's rare earth minerals to the US. Flavio's father also came up during the discussion. Former President (https://www.dw.com/en/jair-bolsonaro/t-48797570) Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest over a coup attempt after his failed 2022 re-election bid. The next presidential debate is scheduled for Friday, October 23. (Supporters of Flavio Bolsonaro hold a giant Brazilian flag during a rally in Sao Paulo) Brazilian politics have been increasingly polarized for nearly a decadeImage: Miguel Schincariol/AFP   Thousands rally in support Meanwhile, tens of thousands of supporters of both candidates rallied in cities across Brazil ahead of the debate, flooding the streets of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities. In Sao Paulo, Bolsonaro's supporters called for the release of Jair Bolsonaro. On the other hand, at Rio's Copacabana Beach, Lula supporters led a "rally for democracy." There were similar events in Brasilia and 16 other state capitals.    Brazil election: Lula faces Flavio Bolsonaro in runoff To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that (https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/) supports HTML5 video    Edited by: Karl Sexton  If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your  (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=dw.com) (External link — Preferred Source on Google) Preferred Source on Google   , so you'll always see our verified news first.   (https://www.dw.com/en/shakeel-sobhan/person-61739014) Shakeel Sobhan Covering politics, social, and environmental issues in India. (https://twitter.com/@ainieas) (External link — twitter — @ainieas)     @ainieas    Send us your feedback      Your feedback (Close form)           Advertisement         (a-79695420@maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf.html#post-related-content-by-similarity) Skip next section Similar stories      Similar stories (https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-to-shorten-workweek-in-win-for-lula-ahead-of-runoff/a-79664991) (Brazil to shorten workweek in win for Lula ahead of runoff) (Photo of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva)  (Photo of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva) (Photo of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva)     (https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-to-shorten-workweek-in-win-for-lula-ahead-of-runoff/a-79664991) Brazil to shorten workweek in win for Lula ahead of runoff  (https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-to-shorten-workweek-in-win-for-lula-ahead-of-runoff/a-79664991) President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers on a key promise ahead of the October 25 runoff.   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Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., a gubernatorial candidate for Tennessee, at a campaign rally)  (President Donald Trump, left, greets Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., a gubernatorial candidate for Tennessee, at a campaign rally) (President Donald Trump, left, greets Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., a gubernatorial candidate for Tennessee, at a campaign rally)     (https://www.dw.com/en/what-could-a-democrat-win-mean-for-trumps-presidency/video-79691660)    What could a Democrat win mean for Trump's presidency?   (https://www.dw.com/en/what-could-a-democrat-win-mean-for-trumps-presidency/video-79691660) High energy prices and cost of living have become one of the top issues for voters in the US.   Politics 10/18/2026 October 18, 2026  18:25 min      Show more        (a-79695420@maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf.html#post-related-content-by-thematic-focus-region) Skip next section More on Politics from Latin America      More on Politics from Latin America (https://www.dw.com/en/mexico-president-sheinbaum-track-record-lower-homicides-violence-corruption/a-79506055) (After 2 years, Sheinbaum's Mexico sees incremental change) (Claudia Sheinbaum gives a new statement regarding the United States' military intervention in Venezuela during a press conference)  (Claudia Sheinbaum gives a new statement regarding the United States' military intervention in Venezuela during a press conference) (Claudia Sheinbaum gives a new statement regarding the United States' military intervention in Venezuela during a press conference)     (https://www.dw.com/en/mexico-president-sheinbaum-track-record-lower-homicides-violence-corruption/a-79506055) After 2 years, Sheinbaum's Mexico sees incremental change  (https://www.dw.com/en/mexico-president-sheinbaum-track-record-lower-homicides-violence-corruption/a-79506055) The president can take credit for fewer homicides and improved social benefits. But violence and corruption persist.   Politics 10/01/2026 October 1, 2026      (https://www.dw.com/en/peter-thiel-palantir-paypal-elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-openai-trump/a-79313426) (Peter Thiel: Power, Palantir and the antichrist) (Peter Thiel in profile, wearing a dark suit)  (Peter Thiel in profile, wearing a dark suit) (Peter Thiel in profile, wearing a dark suit)     (https://www.dw.com/en/peter-thiel-palantir-paypal-elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-openai-trump/a-79313426) Peter Thiel: Power, Palantir and the antichrist  (https://www.dw.com/en/peter-thiel-palantir-paypal-elon-musk-artificial-intelligence-openai-trump/a-79313426) He was early to back Facebook, early to back Donald Trump and became a billionaire. But what drives Peter Thiel?   Politics 09/20/2026 September 20, 2026      (https://www.dw.com/en/trumps-latin-america-allies-open-arms-to-israel/a-78378930) (Trump's Latin America allies open arms to Israel) (Netanyahu; his wife, Sara; and Argentine President Javier Milei. Both men are walking side by side, waving and smiling.)  (Netanyahu; his wife, Sara; and Argentine President Javier Milei. Both men are walking side by side, waving and smiling.) (Netanyahu; his wife, Sara; and Argentine President Javier Milei. Both men are walking side by side, waving and smiling.)     (https://www.dw.com/en/trumps-latin-america-allies-open-arms-to-israel/a-78378930) Trump's Latin America allies open arms to Israel  (https://www.dw.com/en/trumps-latin-america-allies-open-arms-to-israel/a-78378930) Latin America's authoritarian right sees an opening for a strategic alliance with an Israel largely isolated globally.   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