‘Trump of the Tropics’ skips Brazil’s final election debate

in São Paulo

THE front-runner in today’s election in Brazil ducked out of the final television debate as polls placed the far-Right shock populist in an all-time high lead ahead of the vote.

As Brazilians go to the polls today, Jair Bolsonaro was last night 14 points ahead of his nearest rival, despite spending much of the campaign in hospital after being stabbed at a rally in September.

Mr Bolsonaro, a former army captain, said he was under doctor’s orders to stay away from the debate on TV Globo, the country’s largest network.

But he did manage to give an interview that aired on a rival network at the same time, raising criticism from other candidates that he was dodging discussion and unprepared to lead the nation. Mr Bolsonaro’s closest rival is Fernando Haddad, the centre-Left Workers’ Party candidate, who, with 25 per cent, is set to face Mr Bolsonaro in a run-off later this month.

Mr Bolsonaro was last night polling at around 39 per cent, shy of the 50 needed to avoid a run-off.

During the TV debate watched by millions of anxious Brazilians, opponents criticised the Rio congressman who has divided opinion with a string of offensive remarks about gays, black Brazilians and women, earning him the nickname “Trump of the Tropics”.

Marina Silva, the former environment minister, who is polling at 4 per cent, said that Mr Bolsonaro “chickened out” of the debate. In his interview, Mr Bolsonaro attacked Mr Haddad, whom he called “Lula’s puppet”, having been hand-picked to run for election by Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, the jailed former president.