Flávio Bolsonaro is set to take part in the TV Globo debate before the election

Flávio Bolsonaro is emerging as likely to attend the TV Globo debate scheduled for Thursday, three days before the first round of the presidential election, according to Folha de S.Paulo. According to members of his campaign cited by that newspaper, the trend is for him to take part because his main rival, Lula, also indicated that he should be present.

Still according to Folha de S.Paulo, neither Lula nor Flávio had attended any of the first-round debates so far. Most of those encounters ended up being canceled, while Augusto Cury, Renan Santos and Ronaldo Caiado took part in the one organized by TV Bandeirantes.

In the senator’s circle, according to Folha de S.Paulo, they argue that the debate could be uncomfortable for Lula because he is the incumbent president and because other invited candidates maintain a more critical stance toward the president. They also consider it advisable for Flávio to take part in order to avoid questions over a possible absence.

The Datafolha poll cited by Folha de S.Paulo places Lula at 40% of first-round voting intentions and Flávio at 36%. For a possible runoff, the survey shows 47% for the president and 45% for the senator.

According to that same outlet, the PL campaign has been focusing its criticism of the government on two fronts: public security and the economy, with an emphasis on debt and the loss of purchasing power. It also says that Flávio has targeted Lula over the situation of Fábio Luís Lula da Silva in the INSS fraud case.

Folha de S.Paulo added that the PL candidate’s team also believes he could become one of the debate’s targets. Among the issues that could come up is his link to the Banco Master scandal. The newspaper also recalled that in May an audio recording was released in which the senator asks former banker Daniel Vorcaro for money to finish the film