An international pariah in the face of a radical transformation of diplomacy during Jair Bolsonaro’s four-year government, Brazil will have to promote the country’s international re-involvement from 2023 and regain the trust of partners abroad. So the quest will be great for whoever takes over Itamaraty.
As the transition team begins to be designed and initial contacts are established with Chancellor Carlos França and Lula’s former minister, Celso Amorim, there is intense movement within Itamaraty over who will take on the role of leading the country’s new diplomacy.
The UOL report spoke with some of the country’s main ambassadors, who, provided their names were not disclosed, gave an assessment of the strengths and questions each of the listed candidates might take, as well as their capacity to adapt to the elected president.
Celso Amorim
Celso Amorim, career diplomat, Lula’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dilma Rousseff’s Minister of Defense, continues with high regard within Itamaraty. For young diplomats who weren’t even in the profession during their Lula years, the perception is that there is an exhaustion in the embarrassment they face abroad.
More mature diplomats in the profession do not hide their admiration for his intelligence and global vision, but older ambassadors criticize him for failing to prepare successors and overvalue relations with the South (China, India, south).
Internally in Itamaraty, diplomats were impressed by his then-candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva trip to Europe and his acceptance by the continent’s leading leaders, including Emmanuel Macron.
The tour made Bolsonarists and monarchists in Itamaraty unhappy, especially when faced with the fact that the doors were closed to the current president. In Amorim’s case, age is a factor cited as a point of inquiry. But even at 80, she’s in good sync with Lula.
Aloizio Mercadante
Another person who is stated to take over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is Aloizio Mercadante, who is seen as a very prepared person to authorize the chancellor within the government structure. It is noteworthy that he can establish a dialogue with other ministries. However, he is sometimes perceived as a categorical politician who has difficulty using diplomatic language carefully.
During Dilma’s government, Mercadante would be behind the frustrated effort to create positions of confidence for political candidates in the Ministry structure, which was still only occupied by diplomats by a public exam.
Marina Silva
Marina Silva is also on the list of candidates to assume the post of prime minister, although her name is more often cited for occupying a position directly related to the Environment.
Marina Silva gains respect among diplomats mainly for her ability to bring strong legitimacy to Brazil’s environmental foreign policy.
But his profile, despite its importance, will cast into the background a number of other diplomacy areas that may have received little attention from the Chancellor: China, trade, investment, international peace and security, UN reform, Latin America, the United States. , African and Arab countries.
Maria Laura da Rocha
Maria Laura da Rocha, a career diplomat, arouses sympathy for the symbolism of representing, in parts of Italy, the majority of the Brazilian population (women and mestizos) in the prime ministership.
Having served three times in Paris and three times in Rome, as well as Germany, Russia, Hungary and Romania, his long career has focused on Europe.
However, there are those who warn that such an election for Europe could be an obstacle to taking a position that will go through a difficult period.
Fernando Haddad
Other names mentioned are Fernando Haddad, who respects the work carried out as Minister of Education and the trust relationship he has with President-elect Lula.
Although it does not specialize in diplomacy, it also stands out for combining political experience and a solid academic foundation.
Hussein Kalout
During the election campaign, Hussein Kalout approached Mercadante’s group. However, the fact that he served during Michel Temer’s government is seen as an obstacle to gaining acceptance internally in Itamaraty among PT members or former allies of Lula and Dilma.
Despite knowing how to impress, Kalout is often compared to former Chancellor Celso Lafer among diplomats. That is, a personality with a strong academic foundation. But it will need more experience “in the field”, especially at a time when the country will have to deal with the challenges it will have to face in order to relocate itself to the world.
source: Noticias
