Debate Chaos as Datena Attacks Marcal

During a chaotic mayoral debate in Sao Paulo, candidate Jose Luiz Datena attacked fellow candidate Pablo Marcal with a chair after Marcal taunted him about a previous threat to hit him. The confrontation escalated when Marcal brought up a 2019 sexual harassment complaint against Datena, which had been withdrawn but was later claimed to be retracted under intimidation. The violent incident resulted in Datena's expulsion from the debate and left Marcal with a fractured rib, requiring medical attention. Analysts are divided on the potential impact of this altercation on the election, with some suggesting it could raise Datena's profile in a campaign where he was previously polling poorly. Marcal's campaign has gained traction through viral moments from the debates, positioning him third behind incumbent Ricardo Nunes and rival Guilherme Boulos, both polling around 25%. The election is set for early October, and the debate incident has prompted new polls to assess its effects on voter sentiment.