The first debate between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) held on Sunday (18) by Band was highlighted by the international press.
Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro had not participated in debates so far in the election. According to the BBC News Brasil research aggregator, both appear tied in the race, one week before the final vote.
The English version of the French newspaper Le Monde reported that the candidates "exchanged insults" in the debate.
"A chaotic clash between the two candidates — who, on several occasions, called each other liars, accused each other of corruption and brought to light several scandals — epitomized the tone of a fierce election campaign in a deeply polarized nation," says Le Monde.
The French newspaper highlighted that Flávio Bolsonaro tried to destabilize Lula throughout the debate "by walking back and forth behind him throughout the debate, under the gaze of the cameras, shaking his head, showing an ironic smile and showing scorn while his opponent spoke."
"Lula, who, at almost 81 years old, is seeking a fourth term in power, struggled to control his anger at times and repeatedly asked viewers to 'google it' to prove that his opponent was lying."
Argentine newspaper Clarín said the debate was marked by a "climate of tension."
"The two candidates exchanged accusations of alleged corruption, with President Lula trying to take the lead — a strategy to regain points with the electorate after surprisingly losing the first round," wrote the Argentine newspaper.
"In the first direct clash, the president associated his rival with US interests and also linked him to the 'chainsaw' of Argentine [president] Javier Milei. Bolsonaro resorted to allegations of corruption in the PT leader's government."
Also Argentinean La Nación highlighted that "Milei and corruption marked the harsh debate between Bolsonaro and Lula".
"More than a confrontation of ideas, it was an exchange of mutual accusations, low blows and provocations, in which both committed to the same strategy: increasing rejection of their opponent. There were very few proposals and little debate on public policies," wrote La Nación.
"The debate ended up producing several excerpts for both candidates' social media, but without causing a slip-up or decisive error that would tip the balance to one side."
The Spanish newspaper El País highlighted in the headline of a report on the debate: "a technocratic Lula facing a provocative Bolsonaro".
"The candidates are involved in a high-tension confrontation, in which the senator sought to irritate a president who wasted the opportunity to break the tie," states El País.
In another report on the debate, the Spanish newspaper stated: "The direct confrontation did not take long to heat up and was marked by attacks."
"[Flávio] Bolsonaro tried to corner Lula with accusations of alleged corruption linked to his son and his party, while the angry president accused him of having links to organized crime, called him a liar and stated that he participated in conspiracies in the USA."
Qatari network Al Jazeera said the candidates "exchanged a series of personal attacks during the first debate."
"Lula called [Flávio] Bolsonaro a 'contumacious liar' and a 'thug', and, on stage, he maintained a physical distance from the candidate — whom he classified as a 'militiaman', alluding to his alleged links with paramilitary groups in Rio de Janeiro."
"[Flávio] Bolsonaro, who led the first round of the election with 47% against Lula's 45%, said it was better to keep Lula at a distance, 'because my wallet could be stolen'," he wrote to Al Jazeera.
