Politics
Flávio Bolsonaro’s ‘Nine Fingers’ Jibe Prompted Lula’s Sharp Response
During a televised debate two days before Brazil’s presidential runoff, Flávio Bolsonaro squinted at the camera and referred to President Lula da Silva as “nine fingers,” attempting to weaponise an old scar and gossip about the Workers Party leader. Lula reacted sharply, reminding viewers that he lost a finger on his left hand while working in a factory. “If there is anyone who lost a finger at the age of 17, it was me, working at night because I had to work,” Lula said, staring into the cameras. Flávio, red‑faced, seemed unsure where to look. On October 25, Lula made history by becoming the first Brazilian president to finish second in the first round of an election, held on October 4, and then win the presidency in the run‑off. Since entering politics more than three decades ago, Lula’s opponents have circulated the rumor that he deliberately chopped off his own finger to gain sympathy and claim compensation. Those familiar with his life know the struggles that shaped him. Born on October 27, 1945, in a dusty corner of Brazil, Lula grew up amid hunger and deprivation in the state of Pernambuco.