Bizarre moment Brazilian mayor headbutts candidate on stage during live debate

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 and lunged forward and struck him in the face in front of the other stunned candidates at the TV Band studios.

The 49-year-old Leão, who is running under the Socialist and Liberty Party (PSOL), had questioned the 77-year-old Democratic mayor about issues within the city's health department.

He was given one minute to respond to Leão's allegations and then delivered the headbutt before the moderator stepped in between them.

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 of the Brazilian municipality of Teresina, reacts after he was headbutted by Mayor José Pessoa Leal

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Pessôa, who is seeking a second consecutive term, claimed Leão had spit at him.

The discourse – the first debate of the campaign season – continued without any issues as Pessôa extended an apology.

'I want to apologize, because he came at me a lot, spitting, but I already apologized,' he said

However, footage reviewed by DailyMail.com didn't show the Leão spitting at the mayor.

Despite the apology, Leão appeared before a local police precinct and filed a report.

'I was attacked by the current mayor of Teresina with a headbutt, for asking the question that every citizen of Teresina would like to have asked: about the abandonment of Teresina's Public Health system,' Leão said in a statement.

'I was attacked for defending the rights of our outskirts, 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 has their social rights respected.'

Mayor José Pessôa Leal headbutted candidate Francinaldo Leão after he was questioned about the problems with the city's health department

Teresina, Brazil mayoral candidate Francinaldo Leão filed a police report after he was headbutted by Mayor José Pessôa Leal

Mayor José Pessôa Leal claimed he had been spat at during the debate but footage seems to indicate that had not occurred

The Pessôa campaign accused the mayoral candidates of constantly attacking him with accusations that are not true.

'On July 23, the mayor released an open letter to the civil and federal police authorities in which he denounced the untruths against his administration and personal life, which have been going on since the beginning of his term and which have become even more intense with the arrival of the election period,' the mayor's campaign said in statement.

'Regarding the debate between the candidates that took place yesterday on TV Band, the mayor was once again attacked by candidates who are making an excessive and unethical opposition, who are trying, at any cost, to destabilize him, with all kinds of provocations,' the campaign added. 

'The mayor maintained his calm and serene demeanor until, faced with yet another provocation, he reacted to verbal violence from his opponent. The mayor is against violence, but he is human and true to his feelings.'

DailyMail.com reached out to the campaigns of Mayor Pessôa and Leão.