Argentina

Buenos Aires, October 19, 2026. The Argentine press is devoting extensive coverage to the first debate between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, held Sunday in São Paulo on the Band channel, one week before the second round on October 25. The Buenos Aires Times describes an "acrimonious" exchange where the two men repeatedly called each other liars. Lula labeled his rival a "habitual liar" and a thug, and said he did not want to approach a "militiaman"; Flávio retorted that it was better to keep his distance "because my wallet could be stolen".

The element that most directly affects the Argentine audience is the mention of Javier Milei. Ámbito and MercoPress report that Lula asked his opponent if he planned to use the "chainsaw" of the Argentine president to cut 250 billion reais in public spending. Ámbito headlines the "bickering" about Milei and prisoners: Flávio claimed that 73% of prisoners had voted for Lula, and Lula responded that he wanted everyone's vote, "even your father's". The newspaper clarifies that the figure was misleading: it corresponded to polling stations located near prisons.

Perfil, under the pen of its correspondent in São Paulo, is the most severe. It judges that if the debate was supposed to pit ideas and projects against each other, "nothing of the sort occurred": most of the time was spent on corruption allegations, Lula questioning Flávio about former banker Daniel Vorcaro, and Flávio mentioning the suspicions surrounding the president's son, "Lulinha". The newspaper notes the physical pressure exerted by Flávio, an attitude that "we Argentines call patotera", and notes that the moderators only intervened in the final block. It also highlights that Flávio devoted most of his speaking time to drug trafficking gangs, promising to declare them narcoterrorists.

On the electoral front, Argentine newspapers insist on the tie. Flávio won the first round on October 4 with 47% against 45%. Perfil cites a Datafolha poll from October 15 with 51% against 49% in valid votes, while Ámbito reports a Vox Brasil survey giving Lula the advantage, 51% against 49%, within the margin of error. Clarín mentioned a resurgence of Lula before the debate. MercoPress adds that an incident in the audience forced the moderator to intervene when Lula began his conclusion, and that a new face-to-face is scheduled for Friday, October 23.