Incumbent President Lula chose a popular YouTube podcast with millions of subscribers over the final televised forum before the first round of voting this Sunday. His right-wing opponent, Flávio Bolsonaro, also declined to participate in the event, citing censorship by the electoral court. The TV network Globo cancelled the debate after both candidates withdrew.

The decision comes during a tense campaign period ahead of the Sunday election. Critics of the judiciary and allies of the Bolsonaro campaign have claimed that ministers of the Supreme Federal Court are the primary threat to democracy in Brazil despite the court's assertions to the contrary.