A Sao Paulo mayoral candidate is treated in hospital after a rival attacks him with a chair

[Judi Lynn]

A candidate in Sao Paulo’s mayoral race was in hospital Monday after one of his five rivals in a televised debate slammed him with a metal chair following references to allegations of sexual misconduct.

By ELÉONORE HUGHES
Updated 12:43 PM CDT, September 16, 2024

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A candidate in Sao Paulo ’s mayoral race was treated and released Monday from a hospital after one of his five rivals in a televised debate slammed him with a metal chair following references to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Pablo Marçal, a personal development influencer turned right-wing politician, referred to the allegations against José Luiz Datena, a former TV presenter turned candidate, during the debate Sunday evening and said Datena had wanted to slap him. He added: “You’re not even man enough to do this.”

Datena, who has denied the allegations, then came over toward Marçal’s podium with the chair above his head and slammed it into Marçal’s side as the influencer put up his arms. The moderator of the TV Cultura debate then quickly interrupted and cut to commercials, and the debate resumed later Sunday night without Marçal.

. . .

Speaking to reporters after the debate, Datena explained that the episode had been especially painful for him because he believes it prompted his mother-in-law to suffer a series of strokes and pass away.

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https://apnews.com/article/brazil-marcal-chair-datena-attack-debate-c5781f54d5583067b2a57494b9339081