Current President Jair Bolsonaro, who will compete in the second round of the presidential elections to be held tomorrow in Brazil, and his rival, former President and Labor Party Candidate Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, shared their last trump card in the television program they faced. While it was observed that both candidates were tense in the debate, which was broadcast live on television and took place approximately 48 hours before the opening of the ballot boxes, it was noteworthy that former President Lula was more prepared.
Labor Party Candidate Lula criticized Bolsonaro, who has been ruling the country for the last 4 years, for never making a raise in the minimum wage. Emphasizing that the low-income citizens in the country are experiencing great difficulties due to the increase in food prices, Lula reminded that he made a 74 percent increase in the minimum wage in the two terms between 2003 and 2010, when he was the president. If Lula took office, he promised to increase spending on the poor.
Bolsonaro, on the other hand, cited the Covid-19 epidemic and the global economic crisis as the reason for not making a raise, and stated that he did his best and promised to raise the minimum wage from $229 to $265 (1,400 Brazilian Reals) per month, although it was not included in the 2023 budget proposal sent to Congress. Bolsonaro told Silva, “We did better than you would,” and said, “We are ready to rise. We have one of the best economies in the world.”
LULA FOCUS ON COVID-19 AND MINIMUM WAGE, BOLSONARO SCANDALS
In the debate where both candidates tried to corner each other, Bolsonaro claimed that Lula lied to get the votes of the poor people in the country and announced that he would raise the minimum wage if he was re-elected. Bolsonaro said Lula was corrupt during his presidency and was subsequently jailed.
Lula, on the other hand, stated that he was acquitted and released from prison in the case against him. While Lula criticized Bolsonaro’s way of dealing with the corona virus epidemic, in which nearly 700,000 Brazilians died, Bolsonaro focused on the bribery scandals that damaged the reputation of Lula’s Workers’ Party.
RATIO OF THE UNDETERMINED 7 PERCENT
It is stated that the candidates are trying to get the vote of the undecided voters in the country with the last face-to-face discussion on the live broadcast.
According to the latest polls, the rate of undecided voters is 7 percent, while the current President Jair Bolsonaro’s vote rate is expected to be 47 percent, and Lula’s vote rate is expected to be 53 percent.
On the other hand, in the first round of the election, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received 48.4 percent of the vote, while Bolsonaro received 43.2 percent.