Globo cancels Brazilian presidential debate after judicial orders

Globo TV has canceled the debate between the candidates for the presidency of Brazil scheduled for this evening, after two judicial measures that changed the rules of the meeting. In fact, the broadcaster received two notifications shortly before the start of the program, one from the Superior Electoral Tribunal (Tse) and one from the Supreme Court (Stf).

TSE judge Estela Aranha, accepting an appeal from the coalition of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, prohibited Globo from leaving the pulpit reserved for the absent candidate empty and for other candidates to ask questions to Lula. STF judge Gilmar Mendes instead ordered the broadcaster to include Renan Santos, candidate of the Missão party with just one parliamentarian and exponent of the far right, who had been excluded after the previous debate, in which he had shown two diapers with the names of Lula and Flávio.

The rules provided for the mandatory invitation of candidates from parties with at least five parliamentarians. Globo had therefore invited Augusto Cury (Avante), Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), Ronaldo Caiado (PSD) and Lula.

In a statement, Globo justified the cancellation with the judicial decisions adopted close to the debate, which, according to the broadcaster, created "legal uncertainty". It is the first time that a Globo presidential debate has been canceled since the return of democracy to Brazil in 1985.