Lula and Bolsonaro Skip Final Debate Leading to Cancellation

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his main challenger, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, both declined to participate in the final televised presidential debate hosted by TV Globo on Thursday. The simultaneous absence of the two front-runners led TV Globo to cancel the program, marking the first time in 20 years that the leading candidates have both rejected a public confrontation.

Lula had previously declined all campaign debates to avoid what he termed "nonsense" and "trash talk" from rivals, arguing that he should not debate candidates with significantly lower polling numbers. He chose instead to appear on a popular podcast during the scheduled broadcast.

Bolsonaro initially confirmed his participation but withdrew two hours before the event began. He cited "censorship" after the Superior Electoral Court of Brazil ruled that the broadcaster could not leave an empty chair to represent Lula's absence or allow candidates to address that empty space. Following the cancellation, both candidates held simultaneous online broadcasts.

TV Globo attributed the cancellation to legal uncertainty following rulings from the Supreme Court and the electoral court. The election remains highly polarized, with recent polls showing Lula with a slight lead ahead of Sunday's first-round vote and a potential runoff on October 25.