President Lula (PT) and senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) are preparing for the first direct confrontation of the elections in the debate on TV Bandeirantes, this Sunday (18), after missing the clashes in the first round.
Lula and Flávio target voters who intend to vote blank, null or are still undecided, a share that, according to Datafolha released on Thursday (15), amounts to 8% of the total.
At a disadvantage after the first round given the result of 47% to 45% in valid votes, Lula also aims to deconstruct his opponent to convince the electorate that voted for Flávio to change sides in the second round.
Allies of the PT member claim that the priority should be to awaken the electorate's fear of losing social programs if Flávio is elected. Lula plans to demand that his opponent explain how he will make the "treasury" in expenses and taxes, in addition to pointing out contradictions.
"Flávio has to explain himself. Where are you going to cut money from? From health, education, social assistance, social programs? Are you going to stop readjusting your pension? Are you going to stop readjusting the minimum wage?", says the general coordinator of Lula's campaign, Edinho Silva (PT).
The head of government also wants to exploit the fact that his rival changed his position at the last minute on the end of the 6x1 scale. Flávio was opposed to the measure, but ended up voting in favor on the grounds that the workers were in favor of the change.
The president's campaign is trying to stick the "airport nut" label on the senator, in a metaphor to reinforce that he changes his position opportunistically depending on the political situation.
Another topic that Lula will seek to use to wear down his opponent is the Banco Master scandal. Still in the pre-campaign, Flávio saw his popularity decrease due to the release of an audio in which he asked the owner of the former bank, Daniel Vorcaro, for R$134 million for a film about his father, Jair Bolsonaro (PL).
On Flávio's side, the idea, according to aides, is to confront the president without going on the attack aggressively — in an attempt to reinforce the image of "moderate Bolsonaro", a more calm, polite and conciliatory politician than Jair.
According to members of the PL campaign, the stance can be decisive in attracting or alienating voters who have not yet made up their mind and who, in many cases, are disillusioned with politics.
Flávio has also been talking to advisors about how to respond to the possible accusation of unpreparedness. The presidential candidate was a state deputy for four terms and a senator, but he never served in the Executive branch and is 35 years younger than Lula.
A person close to Flávio highlights that the debate will be an opportunity for him to also refute fake news from the opposing campaign, reaffirming his commitment to social policies and programs.
According to this interlocutor, the PL candidate should take advantage of the open TV audience to dispel fears that it will end Bolsa Família, pensions and, among others, the title of Our Lady of Aparecida as patron saint of Brazil.
In interviews and speeches, Flávio has repeated catchphrases that he should take to the program, such as that he intends to take care of Brazil, that the citizen will be at the center of his government and that Lula left a legacy of record negative marks.
The PL candidate must also explore the topic of violence, which tops the list of Brazilians' concerns. The intention is to indicate to the voter that his opponent has no proposal to face the problem, unlike him.
An ally of Flávio states that it is necessary to make it clear that he is the one who will defend and fight for the reduction of the age of criminal responsibility, an issue that also has a strong appeal to the electorate. Lula, in the PL's view, only stated that he was in favor of reducing the age of majority from 18 to 16 for heinous crimes, in an interview with TV Globo last week, because he was cornered by the Bolsonarist proposal, to reduce it to 14.
Allies of the President of the Republic believe that he will also try to include the topic of betting in the debate to force some commitment from Flávio. The PT member banned online betting and credits them with at least part of the responsibility for the population's indebtedness.
The debate should mention the fact that lawyer Willer Tomaz, a friend of Flávio, has investments in the betting industry and has paid for flights for the PL candidate, according to the Federal Police.
Several of Lula's allies have demanded a more combative stance from him. The president returned to Brasília after campaign commitments in Minas Gerais on Friday (16), and would dedicate Saturday (17) and Sunday to preparation. He intends to travel to São Paulo, where the Band's headquarters are, hours before the program.
The discussion about whether or not to participate in the second round debates divided Flávio's team and ended up leading to series of setbacks.
In the first round, the senator stated that he would participate in all debates in which Lula attended and that he would even confirm his presence to force the President of the Republic to do the same.
Despite this, the PT member announced his appearance at the TV Bandeirantes event on Tuesday (13) while Flávio, in a first retreat, announced that he would not go to the broadcaster's debate.
The decision not to attend, however, was short-lived. Flávio began to be harassed by his opponents with the accusation of running away and, on Wednesday (14), he declared that he would, indeed, go to the debate and that his supposed withdrawal was a "trap" for Lula to confirm his presence.
