Globo cancels presidential debate after Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro drop out

The presidential debate of Globo, which would be held on Thursday night, was cancelled after a sequence of changes involving the participation of candidates for the Presidency of the Republic. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) had already informed that he would not attend the meeting, while Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) announced his resignation a few hours before the scheduled time for the program.

The program was scheduled to begin at 21:30, at the Globo Studios, in Rio de Janeiro, with the mediation of the journalist César Tralli. The meeting would be the last debate between presidential candidates before the first round of the 2026 elections, officially scheduled for Sunday, October 4.

The cancellation came after a series of last-minute changes related to the rules and composition of the program. In addition to the absences of Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro, decisions of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) and the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) had an impact on the organization of the debate.

Flávio Bolsonaro announces withdrawal

Flávio Bolsonaro communicated its decision not to attend the presidential debate of Globo through social networks on Thursday night.

The candidate claimed that his absence was related to what he classified as “censorship imposed on the event by TSE.” The statement was released after a decision by Justiça Eleitoral involving how the broadcaster could represent the absence of candidates in the program.

Minister Estela Aranha, of TSE, had determined that the Globo should not display in a prominent way the empty pulpit reserved for Lula. The decision also prevented candidates present from addressing questions to the competitor who was not in the studio.

Lula had already confirmed absence

The campaign of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva officially informed TV Globo on Wednesday (30) that the president would not participate in the meeting on Thursday.

With this, Lula will close the stage of debates of the first round without participating in the television clashes between candidates. The absence was already defined before the changes occurred in the hours that would precede the program.

STF has authorized the participation of Renan Santos

Another element that changed the composition of the debate was a decision of the minister Gilmar Mendes, of Supremo Tribunal Federal, determining that Renan Santos (Mission) had ensured its participation.

The request was submitted by Solidarity. According to the decision, Renan fulfilled the requirement laid down in the broadcaster's own regulations to fill an open vacancy in case of withdrawal. Gilmar Mendes also highlighted that the exclusion of the candidate could not occur in a way incompatible with the previously established criteria.

Before the cancellation, the most recent configuration provided for the participations of Ronaldo Caiado (PSD), Augusto Cury (Avante), Romeu Zema (New) and Renan Santos (Mission), while Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro would be absent.

The first round will be on Sunday.

With the cancellation of the presidential debate at Globo, there will not be the meeting that was planned to close the agenda of television clashes between the candidates before the vote.

The first round of the 2026 General Elections will be held on Sunday, October 4, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Brasilia time. If a second round is needed for the president or governors, the vote will take place on October 25.

Read also: TSE bans Globo from displaying Lula's empty chair in debate