Brazil's Final Presidential Debate Called Off as Both Candidates Withdraw; Bomb Scare Rattles Supreme Court

Brazil's final presidential debate before Sunday's first-round vote was scrapped after both leading candidates pulled out, while a bomb scare outside the Supreme Court added to an already tense political atmosphere in the capital.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his chief rival, right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, skipped the event organized by TV Globo, the country's most-watched broadcaster. The debate had been scheduled for Thursday and represented the last chance for the two frontrunners to confront each other on stage before voters head to the polls.

Instead of appearing at the debate, Lula opted to sit down for an interview on a popular podcast with millions of YouTube subscribers, a move his campaign has increasingly favored as a way to reach younger voters outside the traditional television format. Bolsonaro, meanwhile, announced his withdrawal during a live broadcast on his social media channels, accusing the electoral court of "censorship."

The senator, who is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, pointed specifically to a ruling that prevented the debate's broadcaster from leaving Lula's empty podium on stage. That decision, he argued, amounted to interference in the format of the event and justified his decision to stay away.

TV Globo issued a statement explaining that it had decided to cancel the debate altogether because two separate rulings—one from Brazil's electoral court and another from the Supreme Court—had generated what it described as "legal uncertainty" surrounding the event. The broadcaster did not elaborate on the specific content of the rulings, but the outcome effectively ended the last scheduled joint appearance of the campaign's first round.

The cancellation marks an unusual end to a campaign season that has been defined as much by legal maneuvering and institutional conflict as by policy debate. Lula, who is 80 years old, is seeking another term and holds a narrow lead in most polls heading into Sunday's vote. However, projections for a potential runoff set for October 25 show the two candidates running neck and neck, suggesting the race remains far from decided.

The bomb scare unfolded on the same day the debate was called off, adding to the sense of unease in Brasilia. According to the Supreme Court, a suspect attempted to jump over the court's fences and then threw a backpack onto the roof of a bus stop. The individual was arrested at the scene, and military police spokesperson Raphael Broocke told AFP that authorities examined the backpack and found it contained only personal belongings.

Broocke added that the suspect would remain in custody while the investigation continues. Police and firefighters were photographed inspecting the area outside the court's headquarters, but officials ultimately ruled out any genuine explosive threat. No injuries were reported.

The incident nonetheless underscored the heightened security concerns surrounding Brazil's institutions during a bitterly contested election period. The Supreme Court has been a frequent target of criticism from the political right, particularly following the 2025 conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro over his alleged role in a coup plot. That ruling deeply polarized public opinion and made the court a central flashpoint in the country's political discourse.

Beyond the coup case, the court has also become entangled in a fraud scandal that has dominated the closing weeks of the presidential campaign. Details of the scandal have fueled attacks from both sides and complicated the political landscape for candidates attempting to make their final appeals to voters.

The combination of the cancelled debate and the security incident outside the court reflects a broader pattern of institutional friction that has characterized this election cycle. Analysts note that the absence of a final face-to-face debate deprives undecided voters of a key opportunity to compare the candidates directly at a moment when the race appears extremely tight.

With polls opening on Sunday, both campaigns are expected to intensify their final messaging through social media, podcasts, and targeted advertising rather than traditional televised forums. The first-round results will determine whether the contest moves to a runoff later in October, a scenario that current projections suggest is increasingly likely.

For now, the cancelled debate and the bomb scare serve as reminders of how deeply polarized and unpredictable Brazil's political environment has become in the run-up to one of the most closely watched elections in recent memory.