In a live, televised mayoral debate between six candidates on Sunday, that candidate, Pablo Marçal, was at it again, calling José Luiz Datena, an anti-crime television journalist, a vulgar insult and bringing up sexual harassment accusations against him that were later dropped.
“You crossed the debate stage recently to slap me,” Mr. Marçal said, referring to an earlier debate, in which Mr. Datena got close to Mr. Marçal.
“You’re not even man enough to do that.” He then looked to his right and, from offscreen, Mr. Datena came swinging an iron chair, striking Mr. Marçal over his back.
It was a stunning moment even for the often outrageous political antics of Brazil — one candidate assaulting another on live television — and a show of political violence that was likely to reorder the country’s biggest election this year.
Mr. Marçal quickly capitalized, posting multiple videos on social media after the attack, including a dramatized clip of him being rushed to the hospital and breathing with the help of an oxygen mask.
He also posted from the hospital, clad in a hospital gown with an arm sling.
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The contest to become the next mayor of São Paulo, the biggest city in Latin America, has undergone a significant change in recent weeks due to the audacious run of a right-wing self-help coach who has been rising in the polls and getting under his opponents’ skin with sometimes deceptive and harsh criticism.
That candidate, Pablo Marçal, was at it again during a live, televised mayoral debate on Sunday, accusing José Luiz Datena, a television journalist covering crime, of sexual harassment. The accusations were later withdrawn.
Mr. Marçal referred to a previous debate in which Mr. Datena approached Mr. Marçal, saying, “You crossed the debate stage to slap me.”. “Even you lack the manliness to accomplish that.”. “.
Then, he turned to face his right, and Mr. Datena appeared off-screen, swinging an iron chair and hitting Mr. Marçal in the back.
Amidst the country’s frequently absurd political stunts, this moment of political violence on live television featuring a candidate attacking another was astounding and could potentially reshape the nation’s most important election of the year.
Hey, Mr. Following the incident, Marçal took quick advantage of the situation by sharing a number of videos on social media, including a staged one in which he is seen being taken to the hospital and struggling to breathe after donning an oxygen mask. Donning a hospital gown and an arm sling, he shared photos from the hospital as well.
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