Weekly Report - 27 August 2026 (WR-26-34)

Brazilian TV network Band hosted the first televised debate on 23 August for candidates running for president in October. However, the two candidates ranked in opinion polls as the frontrunners, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, decided to skip it. Instead, President Lula opted to give a one-on-one interview to the Record TV network which was aired at the same time as the debate. This likely drew public attention away from Band and allowed him more time to make his arguments rather than having to share a stage with rivals seeking to criticise his government’s record.