Lula, Bolsonaro seek to disqualify each other ahead of Brazil runoff

Video Duration 02 minutes 28 seconds 02: 28. Lula and Bolsonaro spar in Brazil's fiery first presidential run-off debate.

Key points

• Brazil's right-wing presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro has requested the annulment of the candidacy of his rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, over what he called unlawful propaganda.
• "We have completed the implementation of the measures to comply with the Superior Electoral Court's decision, " the firm stated on Tuesday.
• Lula's petition, which has yet to be officially filed, alleges "algorithmic manipulation" by Meta aimed at harming Lula's chances of winning, a campaign source informed AFP.
• The order came after Lula's campaign alleged that Meta.
• Polls show a particularly close race ahead of Sunday's runoff round.

Both candidates for the Brazilian presidency have pressed the disqualification of their rivals over allegations of social media interference, ramping up political drama ahead of the close-fought October 25 runoff election.

Lawyers for Bolsonaro filed a request with the Superior Electoral Court on Tuesday, alleging Lula's "abuse of power" in the mass dissemination of administration postings during the campaign period via WhatsApp.

Bolsonaro's camp asserted the Brazilian administration sent mass messages to millions of Brazilians via the messaging service, promoting social programmes, benefits and administration initiatives in the midst of the presidential race, Brazilian media noted.

For context, the request to the electoral court seeks to declare Lula and Social Communications Minister Sidonio Palmeira ineligible to hold public office for a period of eight years.

In the other camp, Lula's campaign remarked on Tuesday that it would request the disqualification of Bolsonaro on Wednesday over alleged election interference by WhatsApp parent business, the tech giant Meta.

In practice, the electoral court had given Meta 24 hours on Monday to prove it was complying with an order to treat both campaigns equally, threatening a daily fine of around $200, 000 if it didn't.

Notably, the order came after Lula's campaign alleged that Meta. It owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, was suppressing his online content to boost Bolsonaro.

Lula and Bolsonaro are locked in a heated presidential race after the right-wing candidate, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, won the initial round of voting earlier this month with 47 percent of the vote to the incumbent's 45 percent. Polls show a particularly close race ahead of Sunday's runoff round.

In short, lula, Bolsonaro seek to disqualify each other ahead of Brazil runoff is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.