# Brazil’s debate: Accusations over proposals

> Brazil’s presidential debate: Lula and Bolsonaro clash over corruption and voter trust.
- Title: Brazil’s debate: Accusations over proposals · Brazil Reports
- Summary: Brazil’s presidential debate: Lula and Bolsonaro clash over corruption and voter trust. Brazil’s presidential candidates focused on accusations rather than…
- Keywords: brazil, presidential debate, lula, bolsonaro, corruption, voter trust, election, news, debate, Accusations, proposals, Brazil Reports
- Source: Brazil Reports — https://brazilreports.com/brazils-presidential-debate-accusations-overshadow-proposals/7419
- Author: Marina Guimarães
- Published: 2026-10-20T23:08:13+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: brazil, presidential debate, lula, bolsonaro, corruption, voter trust, election, news
## Presidential debate
Brazil’s leading presidential candidates took the debate stage on Sunday, one week before the October 25 run-off elections.
## Candidates
Incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeks a fourth term, while right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro aims to reestablish his family’s power amid scandals.
## Accusations
Lula refused to stand next to Bolsonaro, calling him a "militiaman," while Bolsonaro accused Lula of being a thief.

> I don’t have my wallet here, so you won’t be able to steal from me
## Voter concerns
A Datafolha poll shows 46% of voters reject Lula and 44% reject Bolsonaro, with 28% rejecting both candidates.
## Election impact
Voter abstention in the first round exceeded 21%, up slightly from 20.95% in 2022, despite voting being mandatory.
## What happened next
The debate highlighted a growing disconnect between voters and candidates ahead of the October 25 run-off elections.
## Key takeaway

Brazil’s presidential candidates focused on accusations rather than solutions during a debate ahead of October 25 run-off elections.