Brazil election debate cancelled, bomb scare reported outside Supreme Court
The final presidential debate in Brazil was cancelled after both the sitting president and an opposition candidate declined to take part, while a bomb scare was reported outside the country's Supreme Court.
Brazil's final scheduled presidential debate ahead of the election has been cancelled, after two of the campaign's central figures chose not to participate. Both the country's sitting president and an opposition candidate opted to skip the event, undermining the debate's purpose as a head-to-head exchange among the leading contenders.
Separately, a bomb scare was reported outside the Supreme Court building, prompting a security response. The incident occurred as the country moves through the final, highly charged stretch of its presidential campaign.
Presidential debates in Brazil have traditionally served as a key opportunity for candidates to respond directly to questions from journalists and rivals in front of a national audience, helping voters compare positions before casting their ballots. The withdrawal of two major candidates from the final debate marks a notable shift in how the closing days of the campaign are unfolding.
It remains unclear whether an alternative format for candidate exchanges will be arranged, or what connection, if any, exists between the cancelled debate and the security scare at the Supreme Court. The developments are being closely watched given the significance of Brazil's presidential election, both domestically and for the wider Latin American region.
