Brazilian frontrunners skip final TV debate amid court rulings and tight polls
The final televised presidential debate in Brazil was canceled on October 2, 2026, just three days before the first-round vote. Incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro both withdrew, citing legal uncertainties and strategic caution. Lula appeared on a podcast instead, while Bolsonaro accused the electoral court of censorship. Polls show a tight race, with a runoff likely on October 25.