Lula’s campaign has consistently signaled that the incumbent will skip first-round presidential debates scheduled before the October 4 vote, opting instead for individual interviews with broadcasters. This approach mirrors past incumbent strategies and stems from concerns over unequal conditions in multi-candidate formats, where opponents could focus attacks without balanced defense of the government record. Confirmed absences have already occurred at the August 23 Band debate and prompted cancellation of the September 14 consórcio event; recent reporting indicates the same stance applies to the Record debate on September 27 and Globo debate on October 1. Flávio Bolsonaro, the main rival, has tied his own participation to Lula’s presence. No official reversal or new confirmation has emerged in the days leading to the remaining dates, supporting trader consensus around a “no” outcome.