First 2026 Presidential Debate Called a "Fiasco"
Listen to the story
There was a first debate for the 2026 presidential race in Brazil.
A writer named Joel Pinheiro da Fonseca says the debate was a fiasco. This means it was a big failure.
He says the most important thing is what people do not talk about.
Two candidates are Flávio and Lula. Flávio is the son of former president Bolsonaro. Lula is the current president.
The writer says Flávio and Lula do not like unscripted events. This means events without a plan.
They like controlled events better. In controlled events, people cannot ask hard questions.
One hard question is about a man named Vorcaro.
Another hard question is about Lula's son. People call him Lulinha.
The writer thinks the candidates want to avoid these questions.
This is why they avoid open debates.
Vocabulary15 words
- debate
- a public talk where people give different opinions
- fiasco
- a big failure
- unscripted
- not planned before
- candidate
- a person who wants to win an election
- controlled
- managed so nothing bad happens
- presidential
- about the president
- avoid
- to stay away from something
- opinion
- what someone thinks
- questioning
- asking many questions
- election
- when people vote for a leader
- writer
- a person who writes
- important
- having big value
- current
- happening now
- former
- someone who had a job before, not now
- race
- a competition to win something
Quiz
Answer key
1. A fiasco 2. The son of former president Bolsonaro 3. To avoid hard questions
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
There was a first _____ for the 2026 presidential race in Brazil.
A writer named Joel Pinheiro da Fonseca says the debate was a _____.
He says the most important thing is what people do not _____ about.
Two _____ are Flávio and Lula.
Flávio is the son of former president _____.
Lula is the current _____.
The writer says Flávio and Lula do not like _____ events.
They like _____ events better.
One hard question is about a man named _____.
Another hard question is about Lula's son, called _____.