Brazil's Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro virtually tied ahead of runoff as records challenge and debate row emerge
Photo: The GuardianBrazil's presidential runoff pits left-wing incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva against right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro, and polls show the two virtually tied with just under a week to go. Lula said he will release his bank, tax and phone records if Bolsonaro does the same. Bolsonaro attended a primetime television debate against Lula, where he made a move meant to portray his rival as corrupt. The gesture was mocked online and became a viral meme as users parodied it. The runoff is the decisive vote for the presidency.
Right-leaning outlets tracked by Crosswire had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative/independent outlets had. The Guardian, on the left, focuses on the debate move backfiring and the social media parody, describing Bolsonaro as far-right. Al Jazeera leads with Lula's records challenge, and Deutsche Welle leads with the tied polls, so alternative coverage stresses the race's closeness and the transparency dare rather than the meme.
How the sides differ Left sources emphasize a debate stunt that backfired online; alternative sources stress Lula's records challenge and tied polls; right sources have not covered it.
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The Guardian leads with Bolsonaro's debate swipe at Lula backfiring and becoming a viral meme, centering on social media users' parodies and describing him as far-right.
Al Jazeera leads with Lula's offer to release his financial and phone records if Bolsonaro does too; Deutsche Welle leads with polls showing the runoff candidates virtually tied.