Lula to miss Globo debate and may have empty chair shown
Allies point to president's absence trend in Monday meeting; Flávio Bolsonaro confirms participation
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), a candidate for re-election, is not expected to participate in the debate of TV Globo, scheduled for Thursday, October 1. The allies’ assessment is that the meeting can turn the petista into the main target of the opponents in the final straight of the first round. The absence, however, had not yet been officially confirmed in the information consulted on Tuesday (29).
According to CNN Brazil, members of the campaign consider the possibility of attendance virtually non-existent. Although he is encouraged by allies to participate, Lula assesses that the confrontation may represent an unfavorable situation for his candidacy. Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) has confirmed that it will be present even if the president is absent.
Gerp Research: Flávio Bolsonaro has 44% and Lula 42%
Questioning the format of the debate
The fear in Lula’s environment is that the other participants will focus on criticism of the government, leaving little time for the president to respond. According to Folha de S.Paulo, allies still admit a change of position until Thursday, but the tendency is to avoid the meeting.
The national president of the PT, Edinho Silva, also signalled resistance to the model. In an interview with TMC, he said that Lula wants to confront Flávio Bolsonaro, but prefers a dynamic that allows a more direct discussion between the two. A possible clash in this format would depend on the second round and the classification of the candidates.
Globo asks questions of absent candidates
The rules of the debate provide that the place of the missing remains empty, identified by name. According to the Panel column, the mediator should also mention the absence when the time comes when that candidate would ask a question.
In the first round of free theme, participants will be able to use up to 30 seconds to present a question they would ask the absentee. Then, they must choose an opponent present to continue the confrontation.
Globo initially invited Lula, Flávio Bolsonaro, Ronaldo Caiado (PSD) and Augusto Cury (Avante). The meeting will be held in the last week of the campaign for the first round.
