A mayoral debate in the Brazilian city of São Paulo took a shocking turn when one of the candidates, José Luiz Datena, attacked his rival, Pablo Marçal, with a chair. The incident, which was captured on video and broadcast live, has sparked outrage and raised concerns about the escalating tensions in the political arena.
The altercation occurred during a heated exchange between Datena and Marçal, with Datena swinging a chair at Marçal, causing injuries that required hospital treatment. Datena later explained that he was provoked by Marçal bringing up old sexual harassment allegations that had been dismissed years ago, leading to a moment of intense confrontation.
Marçal was taken to Sírio Libanês Hospital for treatment, where he was examined for a possible chest fracture and breathing difficulties. Fortunately, the injuries were not severe, and Marçal was released from the hospital after receiving care for trauma to his chest and wrist.
In the aftermath of the incident, Datena was expelled from the debate but stood by his actions, expressing regret for the mistake but not for his response to the provocation. Meanwhile, Marçal's team condemned the attack as cowardly and vowed to pursue legal action against Datena for the assault.
Despite the shocking turn of events, the remaining candidates, Guilherme Boulos, Marina Helena, Ricardo Nunes, and Tabata Amaral, continued the debate after the incident, with the channel expressing regret over the violence but proceeding with the discussion as agreed upon by the candidates.
Marçal drew parallels between the chair attack and previous political violence incidents, such as the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump and the stabbing of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, questioning the motives behind such acts of aggression.
The incident has sparked a debate on the need for civility and respect in political discourse, with calls for accountability and a peaceful resolution to differences of opinion in the public sphere.
