Brazil's Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro Face Off in TV Globo Interviews Ahead of Election

In late August 2026, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro gave separate interviews on TV Globo's news program, part of the network's pre-election candidate series. During his interview, Flávio, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, tried to link a businessman known as 'Master' to Lula, mentioned a 'Disney coup' conspiracy, and said he would respect the election result. He also refused to give details about a project called 'Dark Horse' and was seen using handwritten notes, a tactic his father had used in a previous interview.

Lula's interview drew reactions from his allies, who tried to contain a lobbyist after Lula called her a 'pilantra' (a Portuguese insult). Meanwhile, a Quaest poll released around the same time showed Lula's approval ratings and the electoral landscape in all Brazilian states. Columnists from O Globo rated both candidates' performances, and Flávio's announcement of a health minister pick drew criticism because that person had previously criticized the Bolsonaro administration's pandemic response.