Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro clash in first televised debate

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro held their first televised face-to-face debate on Sunday, trading accusations and personal attacks one week before the October 25 presidential runoff. The debate, broadcast on Band TV, lasted about two hours. The exchange ranged across the economy, public security, health care and corruption, as the candidates accused one another of lying and wrongdoing. They also discussed the cost of living, social programs and Brazil’s ties with the United States. The confrontation was described as heated, with limited discussion of their plans for the country’s future. Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. He finished ahead of Lula in the first round earlier this month, and pre-debate polling indicated a close contest. Two polls cited in reports put Flávio Bolsonaro at 51 percent and Lula at 49 percent, while other accounts described the race as narrowing. Those surveys were conducted before Sunday’s debate and do not show whether it changed voter intentions. During the debate, Flávio Bolsonaro criticized Lula’s spending and social measures, while Lula challenged his rival over...