Brazil's final televised presidential debate before the first round of the 2026 election has been transformed by dramatic last minute changes, with both President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro staying away.
Flávio Bolsonaro withdrew only hours before the TV Globo debate, saying the decision was a response to what he described as "censorship" imposed by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court, UOL and CNN Brasil report.
Lula had already announced that he would not participate. Reuters reports that the president instead planned to appear on the Flow podcast during the debate.
Flávio Bolsonaro pulls out
Flávio Bolsonaro had previously confirmed that he would attend even without Lula.
His position changed after the TSE prohibited Globo from showing an empty podium representing Lula during the debate.
Flávio publicly attributed his withdrawal to that ruling. Folha de S.Paulo reports that his campaign had planned to use Lula's absence as part of its criticism of the president.
Who will take part?
The debate is scheduled to feature Augusto Cury, Ronaldo Caiado, Romeu Zema and Renan Santos.
CNN Brasil reports that Renan Santos was allowed to participate following a decision by Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes only hours before the event.
The debate is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Brasília time and is the final televised presidential debate before Brazilians vote in the first round on Sunday, October 4.
Election enters its final days
Reuters reports that Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro remain the two leading candidates as Brazil enters the closing days of the campaign. The first round includes 13 presidential candidates.
The absence of both leading contenders means viewers will not see a direct confrontation between them in Globo's final debate.
With voting only days away, the unexpected withdrawals and late court decisions have turned the debate itself into one of the major stories of Brazil's final campaign stretch.
