Brazilian socialist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sparked fresh controversy Sunday night after delivering what appeared to be an extraordinary warning to his conservative challenger, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, during a nationally televised presidential debate.
With Brazil’s crucial October 25 presidential runoff just days away, Lula warned Bolsonaro that he would lose his parliamentary immunity and face a wave of investigations if he loses the election.
The explosive exchange occurred Sunday, October 18, during a debate hosted by Brazilian television network Band, where the two candidates traded accusations over corruption, government accountability, and their families’ political controversies.
Lula told Bolsonaro, according to a translation of his remarks:
“Get ready, because on the 25th you’re going to lose your immunity, and you’re going to have problems, because there are a lot of investigations in your life that will now move forward.”
The socialist president went even further, suggesting that investigations had been prevented from advancing by Bolsonaro’s political allies.
“If your friends aren’t allowing them to move forward, now they will.”
The remarks were reported by Brazilian news outlet Portal VV8, which published Lula’s original Portuguese statements from the debate.
