DOMINANT ANGLE
Paris regrets a first Brazilian debate reduced to an exchange of insults, where two neck-and-neck candidates leave undecided voters without a clear program before the second round.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Flavio Bolsonaro won the first round on October 4 with 47% of the vote against 45% for Lula (Sud Ouest, BFMTV).
- 02
Lula wanted to "distance himself from a militia member"; Flavio Bolsonaro showed the word "corrupt" on his hand (HuffPost France).
- 03
The electoral court gave Meta 24 hours under penalty of a fine of one million reals per day (Le Monde).
ANALYSIS
Paris, October 19, 2026. The French press reports on a debate where invective took precedence over the program. On Sunday, October 18, in the studio of the Band channel in São Paulo, outgoing President Lula and conservative Senator Flavio Bolsonaro clashed for the first time, one week before the second round scheduled for October 25. Sud Ouest, BFMTV, and HuffPost France, which picked up the AFP dispatch, speak of a "festival of insults and accusations".
The exchanges are reported in detail. Lula distanced himself from his rival to "take distance from a militiaman", alluding to Flavio Bolsonaro's supposed links with paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro. The senator retorted by showing the word "corrupt" written on his palm, referencing Lula's 2018-2019 conviction, which has since been annulled. "Inveterate liar, thug", the president launched after comments on the expenses of First Lady Janja; "Brazil will put you into retirement", his opponent responded. Lula also demanded explanations about an investigation targeting Flavio Bolsonaro, related to the financing of a film about his father.
The dominant tone is that of a sterile confrontation. RFI, through the voice of its correspondent Sarah Cozzolino, judges the debate "sterile and violent": Flavio Bolsonaro, calm and insolent, gesticulated behind Lula, an attitude reminiscent of Donald Trump's towards Hillary Clinton in 2016, while Lula often remained on the defensive. The moderators had to interrupt the debate. Le Monde cites political scientist Thomas Traumann, who believes that the two candidates "have not won over any voters" among the 10% of undecided voters, and titles that Lula "struggles to defend his record" while Flavio Bolsonaro "dodges questions".
The electoral context is recalled with precision: Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, led Lula in the first round on October 4, with 47% of the vote against 45%, contradicting the polls. The two men are now neck and neck, and RFI notes that 33 million Brazilians did not vote in the first round.
Le Monde adds a digital aspect: the electoral justice gave Meta 24 hours to prove equal treatment of the two campaigns, under penalty of a fine of one million reals per day, after Lula's accusations of "interference". Meta cites "technical incidents".
SOURCES (5)
- Le Monde InternationalMEDIUM
- Sud OuestMEDIUM
- HuffPost FranceMEDIUM
- BFMTV InternationalMEDIUM
