Lula and Bolsonaro trade bitter attacks in debate ahead of Brazil election runoff

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and right-wing senator Flavio Bolsonaro traded fierce personal attacks in a heated presidential debate on Sunday, with both candidates accusing each other of lying and corruption as the country prepares for a tightly fought runoff on October 25.

The debate was marked by a relentless barrage of accusations as the two men clashed on key issues including the economy, public security and healthcare. Neither candidate appeared willing to concede ground, with each seeking to undermine the other's credibility in front of a national audience following the first round of voting.

Beyond the television studio, the battle has extended into the digital arena, with messaging platform WhatsApp and its parent company Meta drawn into legal disputes sparked by attacks launched through the candidates' respective campaigns. Both sides have pursued aggressive strategies to discredit their opponent across multiple fronts.

Bolsonaro has also challenged Lula to broaden the release of his personal records, saying he would disclose his own documents if his opponent agreed to meet certain conditions. The demand added another layer of tension to an already acrimonious campaign, with less than a week remaining before Brazilian voters deliver their final verdict.