• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Latin America
  4. Bolsonaro and da Silva trade insults in first debate
Latin America

Bolsonaro and da Silva trade insults in first debate

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Oct 2022 08:46
  • 1 Shares

Hardly a minute went by without one of the candidates trading jabs and insults as they squared off Sunday in their debate, two weeks from Brazil's neck-and-neck presidential election.

  • Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L), and President Jair Bolsonaro (R) gesture during a televised debate (AFP)
    Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L), and President Jair Bolsonaro (R) gesture during a televised debate (AFP)

Brazilian far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had a heated first presidential debate, their first chance to challenge each other face to face. 

Hardly a minute went by without the candidates trading jabs and insults as they squared off Sunday in their debate, two weeks from Brazil's neck-and-neck presidential election.

Lula bashed Bolsonaro, calling him a "little dictator" and the "king of fake news," accusing him of lying, and having a "disgraceful" record of corruption.

The ex-President (2003-2010) was particularly harsh in his criticism of Bolsonaro's handling of Covid-19, which has killed 687,000 people in Brazil, second only to the United States.

"Your negligence led to 680,000 people dying, when more than half could have been saved," the ex-metalworker said.

Bolsonaro, 67, sought to play the blame game, shifting the focus to the issue of corruption.

"Your past is disgraceful... You did nothing for Brazil but stuff public money in your pockets and those of your friends," Bolsonaro said, calling Lula a "national shame."

"Lula, stop lying, it's bad for you at your age," said Bolsonaro.

War of words

It's just the latest in the war of words between Bolsonaro and Lula. Their latest accusations implied Bolsonaro was a pedophile, with Lula allies calling the President a "depraved criminal" and expressing "disgust" for comments he made on visiting a house last year where a group of underage Venezuelan girls were seemingly working as prostitutes.

Lula did not mention the issue during the debate, but he did wear a lapel pin for an anti-child sex abuse campaign.

It is worth noting Brazil's presidential election took an unusual turn last week when incumbent Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was targeted on social media with accusations of cannibalism.

As has been the case for much of the campaign, personal attacks took precedence over substantive debate.

Bolsonaro, who was elected in 2018 on a wave of anti-establishment outrage, has lost support from the political center due to his combative political style, poor economic performance, rampant Amazon rainforest destruction, and the carnage of Covid-19.

Read more: ‘I’d eat an Indian’: Linking Bolsonaro to cannibalism hits headlines

  • Brazil elections
  • Bolsonaro
  • Brazil Presidential Election
  • Jair Bolsonaro
  • President Jair Bolsonaro
  • Lula da Silva
  • presidential election
  • Brazil

Trending Now

All
Brazil police: Lula supporter murdered by Bolsorano fan with an axe

Lula supporter murdered by Bolsonaro fan with an axe: Police

Most Read

Indonesian president Joko Widodo during an interview in Jakarta in 2016 (Reuters)

Widodo urges Indonesia to abandon Visa, MasterCard to be 'independent'

  • Asia
  • 16 Mar
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen listens to opening remarks before testifying before the Senate Finance Committee about the President's proposed budget request for the fiscal year 2024, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

US Debt ceiling ‘must be raised’ ahead of default: Treasury Secretary

  • US & Canada
  • 16 Mar
The Desert of the Real; Russia's SMO a year later

The Desert of the Real; Russia's SMO a year later

  • Europe
  • 14 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar

Read this

All
Estonian troops parade in Narva, Estonia (AP)
Europe

NATO weighs deploying 300,000 troops on Russia's borders

  • 19 Mar
UK Home Secretary visits Rwanda to push for migrant deportation plan
Africa

UK expands criticized migrant deportation deal with Rwanda

  • 19 Mar
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid are seen at the Bab al Hawa border crossing with Syria on  February 9, 2023. (Reuters)
MENA

Syrian Red Crescent: Militants prevent aid convoys from entering Idlib

  • 19 Mar
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani holds a press conference in Tehran on July 13, 2022. (AFP)
Europe

Iran lambasts French police over excessive violence against protesters

  • 19 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS