Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro and a congressional representative for the Liberal Party (PL), has declared that he will participate in the first‑round presidential debates only if incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Workers’ Party (PT) also agrees to attend. According to Folha de S.Paulo, the condition is intended to prevent him from becoming the sole focus of attacks by other candidates on the right flank.
Debate conditioning strategy
Flávio’s campaign argues that, without Lula on stage, he would be exposed to criticism from all other contenders, potentially damaging his prospects in a possible runoff against the PT leader. The coordinator of his political campaign, Senator Rogério Marinho (PL‑RN), stated that the PL candidate will attend every debate that Lula joins, adding "with all respect to the other candidates." This approach seeks to create a de facto one‑on‑one confrontation in the first round, avoiding a multi‑candidate melee.
Lula’s team, meanwhile, has signaled a far more limited debate schedule. Aides to the president say he plans to attend only one first‑round debate—the event organized by TV Globo scheduled for October 1, which is the last such encounter before the first‑round vote. Lula’s advisors justify the selective participation by citing the alleged bias of other debate formats and the president’s incumbent status, which they argue makes him a natural target.
Electoral context and poll numbers
The decision reflects broader tactical calculations. Flávio’s allies believe that, by insisting on Lula’s presence, they can pressure the president to engage in more debates, thereby creating opportunities to challenge him directly. Should Lula refuse, Flávio says he would still attend a second‑round debate, hoping to compel the president’s participation through the threat of an empty podium benefitting the opposition.
The source also notes the controversy surrounding the inclusion of smaller parties in the Band debate scheduled for August 23. Although electoral law obliges broadcasters to invite parties that elected at least five federal deputies or senators in 2022, the Bandeirantes network applied a "political relevance" criterion, admitting the Novo party (whose leader, Romeu Zema, currently has five deputies and one senator despite originally electing three) and the Missão party (which has a single deputy). Both the Novo and Missão leaders, along with PSD politician Ronaldo Caiado, are positioned in the anti‑Petista camp and could target Lula if given a platform.
A Quaest poll released on August 14 showed Lula leading Flávio in first‑round voting intentions with 38% to 31%. In a hypothetical second‑round scenario, the two candidates are in a technical tie, with Lula at 43% and Flávio at 40%.
Flávio’s entourage reports that, despite the expected absence from the Band debate, he is preparing for the remaining encounters, including the Globo interview and the forthcoming sabatinas (interview segments) with Jornal Nacional.
Based on single-source reporting from Folha de S.Paulo.