President Lula (PT) stated this Friday (2) that his decision not to go to the debate between presidential candidates on TV Globo was a "disaster" for the broadcaster.
Globo canceled the debate on Thursday night (1st), a few hours before the scheduled time. Lula informed the broadcaster on Wednesday (30) that he would not attend the event and would give an interview to Flow Podcast.
"If, for some, it seemed like a disaster that I didn't go to the Globo debate, the disaster was for Globo. She discovered yesterday that she doesn't own everything. She discovered that it's important to respect people," he stated.
Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) withdrew from participating in the confrontation on Thursday, a few hours before the debate, after the minister of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) Gilmar Mendes determined the participation of Renan Santos (Mission) and the minister of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) Estela Aranha prohibited the display of Lula's empty pulpit.
"Globo is still thinking about what happened, that Lula didn't come to the debate, and the podcast I participated in had more audience than the soap opera. A demonstration that, if we have courage and determination, we are not manipulated by the media", said the president, during a walk in the center of Rio de Janeiro, from Candelária to Cinelândia, a route marked by traditional left-wing protests, such as demonstrations by Diretas Já and Lula's rallies in previous elections.
This Friday morning, PT president Edinho Silva said that Lula never said he would go to debates in the 1st round. "I don't know what the surprise is," he said.
He said, however, that the president must participate in electoral debates in a possible 2nd round.
In a statement released on Thursday night, Globo attributed the cancellation to court decisions, which interfered with the rules previously agreed by all parties, including the PT.
Combating abstention
In addition to his presence in the debate, the candidate focused on combating abstention among the elderly. He asked activists to convince voters over 70 to go to the polls on Sunday (4).
The president spoke of "killing misfortune" in the first round, repeated that his government was responsible for discovering fraud at the INSS (National Social Security Institute) and Master bank and made attacks on Flávio Bolsonaro, mentioning the defense that the senator made, as a lawyer, to a Rio military police officer accused of shooting a child, in 2021.
A video with details of the case, recorded by actress Camila Pitanga, went viral on social media.
"There's no point in having a second round if we can kill the misfortune in the first round. It's Sunday that we're going to win the elections, so the dedication of our activists is important," he said.
A Datafolha survey released this Thursday indicates that Lula has 45% of intentions in valid votes, which exclude white, null and undecided voters, compared to 40% for Flávio Bolsonaro.
Lula participated in a motorcade with Senate candidates Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ) and Pedro Paulo (PSD-RJ), as well as the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Cavaliere (PSD), and of Niterói, Rodrigo Neves (PDT).
Faced with the crowd formed around the president, Lula's first speech to the public was for the participants to maintain order during the journey. A window on the VLT (Light Rail Vehicle), which passes along Avenida Rio Branco, where the procession took place, broke in the pushing and shoving.
"It doesn't make sense for the victory walk to have accidents," he said. "Let's be calm. Those who don't need to be calm are those on the opposition side. We discovered the INSS fraud and the Vorcaro fraud. They are the ones who won't have peace", he maintained.
The first lady, Janja da Silva, and the PT candidate for the Senate in Rio, Benedita da Silva, who accompanied the president, reinforced the speech.
Walks on the eve of the election are usually attempts by campaigns to contravene the article of the Electoral Code that prohibits rallies from 48 hours before the election.
This Friday, Flávio Bolsonaro's agenda includes participation in the self-titled "bloquinho", a walk led by deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) in Montes Claros (MG). Lula will also go to Minas Gerais.
Lula also takes a walk on Saturday (3), the day before the first round, on Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo.
