Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro tied after last debate

The presidential race in Brazil has reached a statistical dead heat, with the latest polling placing incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his challenger, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, in an exact tie. This development occurred just two days before the Sunday run-off vote. The Datafolha institute published the survey on Thursday, showing both men at 50 percent. This result erases the four-point advantage Bolsonaro held in polls released two weeks earlier.

The candidates met for their final debate on Friday in Rio de Janeiro. The event was broadcast by TV Globo and marked the end of the formal campaign period. The atmosphere was more diplomatic than their first meeting earlier in the cycle, though personal friction remained evident. The conversation focused heavily on economic policy, infrastructure, and regional development rather than purely ideological rhetoric.

Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, attacked the incumbent's economic record. He described Lula as leaving the country bankrupt and compared his own proposed spending cuts to the approach of Argentina's president, Javier Milei. Lula responded by drawing a parallel between Bolsonaro's plan and Milei's use of a chainsaw to cut public spending. The senator argued that his methods were necessary to address the national debt.

The debate featured several tense exchanges regarding the candidates' backgrounds and policies. Bolsonaro accused Lula of allowing organized crime to expand and failing to control the cost of living. Lula countered by questioning the senator's understanding of the working class. He stated that Bolsonaro does not know what hunger is and does not know Brazil. Bolsonaro responded by asking why goods are so expensive for the average citizen.

A notable moment of tension occurred when Bolsonaro referred to Lula by the nickname Nine Fingers. The term references an accident Lula suffered during his time as a metalworker and is considered pejorative by many. The 80-year-old president demanded an apology, which the senator offered. The exchange highlighted the lingering personal dynamics between the two men's political camps.

Another heated segment involved the mother of a five-year-old child killed in a police shootout. The officer involved in the incident had Bolsonaro as his lawyer. The senator stated he does not believe his client was guilty. Lula also referred to Bolsonaro as a vigilante, citing allegations of ties to paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro. Bolsonaro said he would classify such groups as narcoterrorists.

Both candidates are scheduled to address supporters in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo over the weekend. These final rallies will occur before voters head to the polls on Sunday to determine the next leader of South America's largest economy.