The last presidential debateprior to Sunday’s ballot in Brazil, had a climate of “single note zamba”, a spiral in which the two candidates, President Jair Bolsonaro and former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, rather than exchange proposals, accused each other over and over again of “liar” and “do not answer”, without moments for laughter.
O Globo multimedia studios in Jacarepaguáa western suburb of Rio de Janeiro, were the scene of a truncated television debate.
It was the last occasion in which the candidates saw each other before what will be the ninth direct election for president of Brazil since the democratic recovery in 1985, an encounter in which both repeated the word “liar” over and over again in front of to each intervention of his opponent.
The two-time president answered sarcastically in each intervention, tried to Bolsonaro to be “unbalanced”said it was “a one-note zamba” because he kept repeating the same argument, offered him time “to talk to his team to see if he can think of something else” instead of “nonsense”, and even addressed the heavens when he asked “Father, forgive the ignorant.”
Bolsonaro, unlike the previous debate, resorted less to paper in handalthough he did read part of his speeches, especially when he had to mention specific data.
“Stop lying,” was the catchphrase that the president shouted several times.
The former union leader apologized looking at the camera on different occasions because he understood that the voters expected “something else” from the debate.
The moment in which the Liberal Party candidate was most disoriented was when Lula asked him why he bought Viagra (a drug used to treat male sexual dysfunction) for the armed forces in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and The president took the floor, improvising an argument in whispers: “Viagra is used for several treatments…”, he said, his voice trailing off. “For the prostate,” he added.
Lula came out from behind the lectern: “I’m going to come closer to listen to your argument,” he said while looking at Bolsonaro over his glasses, tilting his chin toward his chest.
“I already explained, I already explained,” the soldier timidly repeated and aroused laughter among the accompanying public and among the journalists.
It was the only time that laughter was heard among the attendees who remained stoic even when Bolsonaro welcomed the appearance of the coronavirus.
How the debate was experienced outside the station
At the entrance to the station, about 60 people gathered in the rain to encourage the candidates before entering.
Télam could see in the place that the PL candidate was expected by less than ten women dressed in the jersey of the soccer team and with a Brazilian flag, two symbols that the former army captain managed, in part, to capitalize on as his own.
“We don’t want any more thieves, as a good guy (Lula) he has nothing. Instead, Bolsonaro preserves the family and has God in his heart. He and his wife are simple people, and he even goes to the kitchen and makes coffee”, told Télam Claudia Nunesa 56-year-old woman.
Fernanda Campos, 50, assured that with the current government “the economy has improved and will continue to improve” to which Gloria (she did not want to give her last name), 47, added that “just by stopping stealing, it is already a lot ”.
The rest of those present were on the opposite sidewalk and most were dressed in red, with T-shirts with the face of the former president and the symbol of the Landless Movement (MST), one of the main popular arms that supported the Governments of the Party of the Workers (PT), waving red flags and posters with Lula’s face.
“Lula is the salvation of the country. His rule ended with the poor. We are from the MST of Piraí, in the south of Rio de Janeiro”, told Telam Luis Gonzaga Plauska66 years old, who for 20 years “when Lula took office” has been dedicated to small-scale agriculture.
Relma Aparecida, 48, assured that “for a better Brazil, it is Lula, there is no other.”
“Bolsonaro only gave us a “ferro” (clothes iron) so that we “ferremos” (insult),” said the producer of vegetables, legumes and fruits while waving a Brazilian flag.
