Lula, Alckmin slate first debate face-off for Sunday

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday October 3, 2006

Rio de Janeiro- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, fighting for his political life under a cloud of suspicion and public disillusionment, is slated to meet his rival Geraldo Alckmin in a televised debate on Sunday. The Bandeirantes TV channel confirmed on Tuesday that it has invited Lula to the debate, which will kick off a series of such encounters before the runoff elections on October 29.

Lula, the country's first working-class president, said Monday he would attend all debates he's invited to in the lead-up to the vote. His boycott of last week's debate just two days before the first round of presidential elections October 1 is partially blamed for the upset that has forced him into the runoff.

In a related development, electoral authorities have confirmed they are investigating the most recent scandal that Lula's subordinates were involved in - a shadow hanging over a Lula victory that could deny him the presidency even if he wins the runoff.

That scandal, which involved alleged bribes by Lula's Worker's Party for false information to smear Lula's rivals, has also been blamed for the drop-off in support at the election box on Sunday.

Until Sunday's vote, Lula appeared assured to win on the first round, with polls indicating he would meet the 50-per cent victory marker. But in a striking turnaround, Lula, 60, received only 48.61 per cent of the vote. Social Democrat Alckmin, 53, surprised analysts by taking 41.64 per cent of the vote.

"I hope ideas and government programmes are the object of debate," Lula said Monday.

The debates are being organised by the main radio and TV stations in Brazil, with the last one scheduled by the powerful TV Globo on October 27, just two days before the election.

Both candidates are rushing to find support of allies who did well in Sunday's vote. Lula plans to engage the governors-elect of the states of Sergipe and Bahia, as well as the deputy for the state of Ceara Ciro Gomes, media reports said.

Alckmin is expected to travel with the governors-elect of the two richest states in the country, Sao Paulo y Minas Gerais - Jose Serra and Aecio Neves.

In the corruption scandal named "Dossier-gate" by Brazilian media, Lula was called just hours before the election to present his defence before electoral authorities. Lula denied any involvement in the illegal activities that are blamed on some of his advisers.

In a separate rebuff, Lula's backers were turned down by electoral authorities in their bid to invalidate Alckmin's candidacy on two separate grounds - that Alckmin had profited from favourable media coverage, and that he had received illegal campaign funds through an NGO named New Politics.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency