Portugal

Lisbon, October 19, 2026. The Portuguese press first notes the chaotic nature of the first face-to-face between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, held Sunday evening on the Band, one week before the second round set for October 25. The 24 Notícias site from SAPO headlines that it finally took place and was, "as expected, chaotic". The Observador, in its 3 a.m. radio bulletin, summarizes the evening in one phrase: a debate "marked by an exchange of accusations and few proposals". RTP Notícias speaks of a "heated debate" that lasted until Monday night.

A large part of SAPO's account focuses on the path that led to this meeting. In the first round, several debates were cancelled: those of Record and the Momento da Decisão consortium due to lack of confirmation from both camps, that of Globo after Flávio Bolsonaro's withdrawal and judicial decisions on the rules. For the second round, four debates were planned. Record cancelled the one on October 11, citing incompatible schedules; that of the media consortium (CNN, SBT, Metrópoles, and others), scheduled for October 15, did not take place. SAPO writes that Sunday's debate was "the first and perhaps the only one".

The media also details the mechanics of the broadcast: three blocks, two questions from moderators Eduardo Oinegue and Adriana Araújo to each candidate, then a 15-minute direct confrontation that each manages freely. The second block alternates questions from the moderators and cross-questions between candidates, with one minute thirty to ask and four minutes shared between response and reply. Flávio Bolsonaro had confirmed his presence on Wednesday, after Lula assured he would come, whereas the latter had said the day before that he would not be there.

SAPO notes that the Globo debate, scheduled for October 23, has not been cancelled yet: Lula's team has signed the conditions, Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign has not yet formalized its adherence, and the channel set October 19 as the deadline for confirmation, specifying that it would hold the debate even in the absence of a candidate.

The perspective is therefore that of a campaign seen from Lisbon as a battle of image and calendar between two neck-and-neck camps, rather than as a clash of programs. The provided articles do not report on the details of the exchanges on the economy or security, nor the bomb alert targeting Flávio Bolsonaro's vehicle.