Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has dared right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro to open up his personal records ahead of the second round of the presidential vote. Corruption has become a central issue in the race.
On Tuesday, Lula said he would release his own bank, tax and telephone records, along with those of his family, if Bolsonaro agreed to do the same. Speaking at a campaign event in Maranhao state, the left-wing leader said: “I’m willing to let Brazilians see who the thieves and corrupt people in this country really are.” He added that he wanted to see whether Bolsonaro would reveal his bank and phone records.
Vorcaro scandal reaches Bolsonaro and the top court
The challenge comes as both campaigns deal with fallout from a corruption scandal involving disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro, which has implicated influential people and institutions across Brazil. Bolsonaro is the only major presidential candidate with direct links to Vorcaro.
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The scandal has also touched the Supreme Federal Court, a frequent target of right-wing anger. The court sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio’s father, to 27 years in prison for his role in a coup plot after Lula defeated him in 2022.
Meta dispute fuels concerns over US interference
Corruption has become a potent issue that the right has tried to exploit, and Lula has sought to turn it to his advantage in the final weeks. Worries about US interference have also hung over the race after a series of Trump administration interventions in Brazilian domestic affairs.
Reports that the US social media company Meta had restricted Lula’s online campaign prompted a legal complaint. On Tuesday, Meta told Brazil’s Supreme Court it had taken steps to ensure equal treatment for both candidates, and said any automated restrictions on advertising accounts would be reviewed within two hours through the Sunday runoff. One news agency, citing an anonymous source, reported that Lula would seek to disqualify Bolsonaro’s campaign over alleged “algorithmic manipulation” in his favour by Meta.
