Candidates Absent from Presidential Debate, Their Absence Becomes the Main Topic

Brazil's first presidential debate for the 2026 election saw only three of the six invited candidates participate, with the two leading contenders, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, notably absent. Their non-attendance dominated the discussion among the remaining candidates: Ronaldo Caiado, Renan Santos, and Augusto Cury.

The absence of Lula and Bolsonaro turned their empty podiums into a focal point. Caiado, Santos, and Cury repeatedly criticized the frontrunners for not engaging in public debate, effectively giving the absent candidates significant attention simply by their lack of presence. Zema, another invited candidate, was described as a "non-topic," having seemingly made little effort to gain visibility outside his home state of Minas Gerais.

Renan Santos of the Missão party presented a unique candidacy, rejecting votes from supporters of the current president. This stance drew a professorial reprimand from Augusto Cury, who questioned Santos's aggressive approach. Santos, in turn, used signs bearing Lula and Bolsonaro's names on the empty podiums, issuing strong criticisms and promising harsh measures against criminals and states that deviate from his platform.

Augusto Cury, a psychiatrist and writer, adopted a professorial persona, offering to "heal" Brazil. His pronouncements sometimes resembled lectures but served to contrast with Santos's aggressive style, positioning Cury as a figure of pacification. Ronaldo Caiado, the most politically experienced among the three, returned to presidential debates after a 37-year hiatus, recalling his past promises to eliminate "demagogues and politicians."