A Brazilian mayor headbutted one of his rivals during a heated televised debate on Thursday.
Teresina Mayor José Pessoa Leal shocked candidate Francinaldo Leão when he walked up to him, jumped forward and punched him in the face, in front of the other stunned candidates in the TV Band studios.
The 49-year-old Leão, who is campaigning on behalf of the Socialist Party and the Freedom Party (PSOL), asked the 77-year-old Democratic mayor questions about issues within the city’s health service.
He was given one minute to respond to Leão’s accusations and then headbutted, prompting the moderator to intervene.
The mayor of the northeastern Brazilian city of Teresina, José Pessoa Leal (right), headbutted candidate Francinaldo Leão during a heated live debate on TV Band on Thursday
Francinaldo Leão, who is running for mayor in the Brazilian municipality of Teresina, reacts after being headbutted by Mayor José Pessoa Leão
Pessôa, who is seeking a second consecutive term, claimed that Leão had spat at him.
The debate – the first of the campaign season – went off without a hitch, with Pessôa apologising.
“I want to apologize because he came at me a lot and spat, but I have already apologized,” he said
However, the footage viewed by DailyMail.com does not show Leão spitting at the mayor.
Despite the apologies, Leão appeared at the local police station and filed a complaint.
“The current mayor of Teresina has headbutted me because I asked the question that every citizen of Teresina would like to be asked: about the neglect of Teresina’s public health system,” Leão said in a statement.
“I was attacked for defending the rights of our suburbs and for giving a voice to those who are often silenced.
“But know one thing: they will NOT silence me! Despite the mayor’s lack of control, my fight will continue so that every citizen is heard and their social rights are respected.”
Mayor José Pessôa Leal headbutted candidate Francinaldo Leão after he was questioned about the problems with the city’s health service
Teresina, Brazil mayoral candidate Francinaldo Leão has filed a police report after being headbutted by Mayor José Pessôa Leal
Mayor José Pessôa Leal claimed he was spat at during the debate, but footage appears to indicate this did not happen
Pessôa’s campaign accused the mayoral candidates of constantly attacking him with accusations that are not true.
“On July 23, the mayor published an open letter to the civil and federal police authorities in which he denounced the untruths about his administration and his private life. These untruths have been going on since the beginning of his term and have become even more intense now that the election period is approaching,” the mayor’s campaign team said in a statement.
“Regarding the debate between the candidates that took place yesterday on TV Band, the mayor was once again attacked by candidates who are conducting an excessive and unethical opposition and who are trying to destabilize him at all costs with all kinds of provocations,” the campaign said.
“The mayor maintained his calm and serene demeanor until, faced with yet another provocation, he responded to verbal abuse from his opponent. The mayor is against violence, but he is human and true to his feelings.”
DailyMail.com contacted the campaigners of Mayor Pessôa and Leão.