The televised debate between São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas and former Minister Fernando Haddad on Band TV highlighted the stark policy differences between the Bolsonaro-aligned incumbent and the Lula-affiliated challenger, yet unfolded with a notable degree of mutual respect.
Education rankings under scrutiny
On education, Haddad pointed out that São Paulo’s public high schools had fallen from third to tenth place nationally during Tarcísio’s tenure. The governor defended his record by citing ongoing initiatives and promised to return the state to the top ranking, noting he had brought in Paraná’s education secretary Renato Feder to pursue that goal. Tarcísio contested Haddad’s assessment, but acknowledged that recent results have been mediocre.
Fiscal tensions and debt
Haddad shifted to the economy, arguing that the state government’s pursuit of fiscal balance is undermined by a rapidly growing debt burden. He reminded viewers that the Bolsonaro administration had defaulted on precatório payments—court‑ordered debts owed by the federal government—and had pressed states to suspend ICMS, a state‑level value‑added tax. According to Haddad, Tarcísio’s first conversation with the then‑federal finance minister was precisely a request to restore that revenue stream.
Security policies and femicide rise
Security figures offered a mixed picture. Data presented showed a 23.8 % decline in cellphone robberies in São Paulo between January and April 2026. Haddad, however, emphasized a more alarming trend: the number of women killed because of their gender rose 96.4 % in 2025 compared with 2021. He noted that while the left has historically struggled to convey credibility on security, the right’s claims of competence have not been substantiated when in power, citing Bolsonaro’s advocacy for police impunity through the excludente de ilicitude and for arming civilians.
Political crosscurrents
Toward the end, Tarcísio asked Haddad what advice he would give President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on fiscal responsibility. Haddad replied that he would caution against appointing Roberto Campos, suggesting a link to the Master financial scandal—a claim that remains unproven. He added that connections between the Master scheme and figures from the Bolsonaro government, such as former Chief of Staff Ciro Nogueira, are well documented.
Tarcísio closed by praising former President Jair Bolsonaro, expressing gratitude and urging support for Bolsonaro’s son, Flavio Bolsonaro. The following day, Hugo Motta, president of the Chamber of Deputies and a fellow member of Tarcísio’s Republicanos party, announced he would vote for Lula, stating it was "the best for the country."
The debate underscored that while the two candidates stand on opposing sides of Brazil’s ideological divide, they engaged in a substantive exchange that allowed voters to compare concrete policy proposals rather than personal attacks.