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Brazilian election debate cancellations

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-28 12:08 UTC → 2026-09-29 00:31 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Major media organizations in Brazil have canceled scheduled election debates due to the refusal of frontrunning candidates to participate. On September 9, the media consortium ‘O Momento da Decisão’ suspended presidential and São Paulo gubernatorial debates after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro failed to confirm their attendance by the required deadline. While other candidates such as Ronaldo Caiado and Fernando Haddad had accepted, the group determined the absence of the leading candidates necessitated the cancellation. Caiado characterized the situation as a ‘blow to Brazilian democracy.’ Following this, the broadcaster Record canceled its scheduled first-round presidential debate. The network stated that a debate held near the election must facilitate a direct confrontation of primary proposals, which would be impossible without the two candidates holding the majority of voter intentions. Record indicated it may hold a new debate on October 11 if the election reaches a second round. By September 23, additional media coalitions involving SBT, CNN Brasil, and RedeTV! also canceled scheduled debates due to the lack of confirmation from the leading candidates. Record noted that because Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro represent approximately 70% of current voting intentions, a debate without them would fail to present the primary competing proposals to the electorate. As the TV Globo debate scheduled for October 1 approaches, the Lula campaign has expressed uncertainty regarding participation. Marco Aurélio de Carvalho, the campaign coordinator in São Paulo, stated there is ‘no reason’ for Lula to participate in a debate against Flávio ~~Bolsonaro, arguing that Lula has already presented his program through other media.~~ Bolsonaro. Conversely, Flávio Bolsonaro has confirmed his intention to attend the TV Globo debate regardless of Lula’s ~~presence, aiming~~ presence. In preparation for the October 1 event, TV Globo has announced programming adjustments, including changes to ~~confront his primary political adversary.~~ the timing of ‘Jornal Nacional’ and ‘Jornal da Globo.’ Globo has invited Lula, Flávio Bolsonaro, Ronaldo Caiado, and Augusto Cury to participate, noting that substitutes may be called.

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