Moro, Paes skip first governor debates in Brazil

Senators Sergio Moro and Eduardo Paes, leading in polls for governor in Paraná and Rio de Janeiro, have announced they will skip the first televised debates.

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a cockfight, only fights and attacks

Moro, from the PL party, stated he would not participate in what he called a "fixed game" between candidates supported by the PT and PSD parties. He accused them of desperately coordinating attacks against him, the election frontrunner, claiming they rely on allies for their campaigns. Moro also pointed to the electoral calendar, noting that official campaign activities, including radio and TV, begin later.

Paes, of the PSD party, cited his campaign's legal department's guidance for his decision. His campaign stated that the "Juntos Para Mudar, Coragem para Reconstruir" coalition decided Paes would not join debates or forums before the official campaign start and candidate registration confirmation. The campaign also mentioned the electoral calendar as a reason for his absence.

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It is a fixed game. And as they are desperate, they agree among themselves to attack whoever is leading the election for governor of Paraná. Whoever has a history and credibility and depends neither on a father nor a godfather

Both candidates are leading in pre-campaign polls, and their strategy appears to be avoiding potential damage to their image. Moro described debates as a "cockfight" focused on attacks rather than proposals for the state's future. Paes's main rivals, Douglas Ruas (PL) and Anthony Garotinho (Republicanos), are expected to participate in the debates.

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The coordination of the campaign of the coalition ‘Juntos Para Mudar, Coragem para Reconstruir’ decided, following the guidance of the legal department, that the candidate Eduardo Paes will not participate in debates and forums before the official start of the campaign and the confirmation of candidate registrations by the Electoral Justice