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    Lula, Bolsonaro trade barbs over cost of living in final debate before Brazil runoff

    Synopsis

    Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva engaged in a heated debate on cost of living. Both candidates aimed to win over undecided voters ahead of a tight election runoff. Bolsonaro criticized Lula's past while emphasizing his proposals for security and welfare. Lula defended his minimum wage increases and highlighted progress in reducing hunger in Brazil.

    Televised debate of Flavio Bolsonaro and Lula ahead of the presidential election runoff in Rio de JaneiroReuters
    Flavio Bolsonaro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva engaged in a heated debate on cost of living
    Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sparred over the cost of living and traded personal attacks on Friday in the last presidential debate before Sunday's runoff, as both candidates sought to win over undecided voters amid a tight race.

    Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, led Lula in the first round of the election earlier this month, but opinion polls have shown the two candidates about even this week after the gap between them narrowed.

    Also Read: Lula vs Bolsonaro: As Brazil lies on the brink of tilting right, India watches its major BRICS partner


    Bolsonaro and Lula repeated their campaign proposals during the over two-hour debate hosted by Globo, Brazil's most-watched TV channel, focusing on themes such as the cost of living, welfare and security, while exchanging allegations of corruption.

    Lula, who is seeking his fourth term after winning back the presidency in 2022, has defended his government's above-inflation minimum wage increases and stressed that his administration helped millions of Brazilians to escape hunger.

    The president said the younger Bolsonaro "is like students studying for college entrance exams. They can memorize things, but they can't learn." He also said that "in the gated community where Bolsonaro lives, people don't go hungry." Reuters

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