Clash between Luciana and Aécio becomes a joke on the web.

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - An indirect duel between Dilma Rousseff (PT) and Aécio Neves (PSDB) regarding corruption allegations heated up a previously lackluster debate between presidential candidates promoted by the CNBB on Tuesday, which included a right of reply for each of them, something unprecedented in the debates held so far in this campaign.

PSB candidate Marina Silva distanced herself further from the dispute between her two rivals, but used her closing remarks to reiterate her criticism of the PT-PSDB polarization.

Aécio took advantage of a question from Pastor Everaldo (PSC) to attack the president regarding the recent corruption allegations at Petrobras, which led to a request for the right of reply from the PT candidate, granted by the debate's production team.

Meanwhile, the PSDB candidate, when asking Luciana Genro (PSOL) a question about education, ended up hearing harsh statements from his opponent recalling allegations of irregularities by PSDB governments. He also had a request for the right of reply accepted.

"Brazilians are ashamed and outraged by what has been happening to our most important public company, subjected to the greed of a political group that, in order to remain in power, allowed anything goes in our largest company," said Aécio, responding to Everaldo who, using a term coined by the politician, referred to the allegations as "mensalão 2" (a reference to the Mensalão scandal).

"It is unacceptable that Brazil continues to be governed with such a lack of commitment to ethics, decency, and Christian values," Aécio declared, taking advantage of the context of the debate being held by the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil.

Subsequently, the PSDB candidate questioned the PSOL candidate about education, but she preferred to focus her attacks on the PSDB's corruption scandals, such as the Minas Gerais mensalão scandal—which, according to her, is the origin of the PT's mensalão scandal—, allegations of corruption in the privatizations of the Fernando Henrique Cardoso government, and vote-buying to approve the reelection amendment during the same government.

"You talking about the PT is like the pot calling the kettle black," Luciana retorted.
Ironically, Aécio made a point of reminding the PSOL candidate of her PT (Workers' Party) origins and accused her of acting as an "auxiliary line of the PT," which only increased the firepower of his opponent.

"With all due respect, auxiliary line of the PT, my foot, candidate Aécio! Because the PT learned from you, learned from your party," she added, even calling the PSDB candidate a "fanatic of corruption," which prompted a request for the right of reply from the PSDB candidate.
In his right of reply, Aécio avoided directly refuting the accusations made by his PSOL opponent, which he described as "irrelevant," "irresponsible," and "frivolous."

Dilma, in turn, used her right of reply to remind everyone that the allegations at Petrobras were "investigated and uncovered" by a government agency, the Federal Police.

"We strengthened the Federal Police, created the Transparency Portal, appointed the Public Prosecutor's Office according to the shortlist presented to us, and never chose a 'general file-away' of the Republic. And if today acts of corruption and illegalities are being discovered, it is because we did not sweep them under the rug," said the president.

Ignoring the dispute between the two main adversaries in a debate that, due to the rules, didn't even feature a direct duel between the three leading candidates, Marina used her closing remarks to attack the polarization prevalent in the last five presidential elections.

"I have said that those who will win the elections are not the structures of the PT-PSDB polarization parties that have just clashed here. Those who will win the elections are a new attitude, mainly from the Brazilian citizen... who identifies in our project the true change."

Dilma, who made her closing remarks shortly after her rival, did not miss the opportunity to challenge her opponent.

"Whoever has changed Brazil will win these elections," he declared.

Aécio, in his closing remarks, reiterated his assessment that Dilma's government "failed" and that Marina "cannot overcome her enormous contradictions." The PSDB candidate also celebrated the Ibope poll, which showed an increase in his voting intentions and, in his view, already demonstrates "a very clear growth in our candidacy."

An Ibope poll released Tuesday night showed that Aécio was the only one of the presidential candidates to gain ground. The PSDB candidate jumped 4 points to 19 percent. Dilma, on the other hand, fell 3 points to 36 percent, while Marina dropped 1 point to 30 percent.

(Reporting by Eduardo Simões)