Lula, Flavio Bolsonaro trade insults in debate

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro traded personal attacks in their first debate Sunday, one week before the October 25 presidential runoff.

The candidates called each other liars multiple times, accused each other of corruption and clashed over public security, healthcare and government spending. Bolsonaro led the first round with 47 percent of the vote to Lula's 45 percent.

Lula called Bolsonaro "a habitual liar, a thug" and referred to alleged links with Rio de Janeiro paramilitary groups. Bolsonaro said it was better to keep Lula at a distance because his wallet could be stolen, and later called Lula a "clown" when pressed about a corruption investigation involving him.

Bolsonaro focused on cost of living and insecurity, accusing Lula of reckless spending to win re-election. Lula challenged Bolsonaro over possible public spending cuts and portrayed him as out of touch with poor Brazilians.

The record of former president Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio's father, came up repeatedly. When asked about Jair Bolsonaro's handling of Covid, Flavio Bolsonaro said it was not an area where the best results were seen during his father's presidency and offered a mea culpa.

Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for a botched coup after his failed 2022 re-election bid. Lula joked that he wanted Jair Bolsonaro's vote, saying the former president knew his son and knew Lula was better than him.