Elizabeth Bagley, nominated by Joe Biden to represent the USA in Brazil, was asked about the measures she would take to protect a democratic regime in the face of ‘Jair Bolsonaro’s attempts to undermine the elections’. She admitted a moment of tension, but she measured her words in her responses to lawmakers.
Saturday, when U.S. President Joe Biden’s nominee Elizabeth Bagley for the U.S. Embassy in Brazil was approved, became a space for U.S. senators to voice their concerns over what they describe as “democratic declines in Brazil.”
- Biden administration received file from academics warning ‘most extreme version of attack on Capitol’ in Brazil
In several questions and comments addressed to the diplomat on Wednesday, 5/18, lawmakers predicted challenges for the 2022 Brazilian election, calling President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) a leader “trying to undermine the election” and questioning the measures a diplomat would take to ensure democracy.
“A bilateral relationship with Brazil will require a strong (US) spokesperson for Brazil, especially as the country prepares for October’s contentious presidential election,” said Democratic Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts.
Bolsonaro, a candidate for re-election, finished second in voting intent polls, casting doubt on the integrity of electronic voting machines and suggesting that the Armed Forces should participate in vote counting.
“You are going to a country where democratic setback is a real concern. We are concerned about the current leader of Brazil, who is trying to undermine the essence of the electoral process,” said Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey. said. Foreign Affairs Commission.
In another speech, Menendez quoted the president’s name: “Bolsonaro tried to weaken the electoral process. What measures can we take to support the integrity and democratic outcome of the elections?”
On the other hand, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire focused her question on what she described as “a setback in Brazil”.
“This is a big concern because, as all[senators]have pointed out, Brazil is a very important country in Latin America with many resources that are important to the world. Brazil and President Bolsonaro,” Shaheen said.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia was even more precise than his colleague when speaking of Russia, recalling that Bolsonaro had expressed “solidarity with the Russian people” during his visit to Vladimir Putin in Moscow, days before the Kremlin-led invasion. to Ukraine.
“I am intrigued by Bolsonaro’s attraction to Putin, his visit to Russia just before the invasion of Ukraine, their unwillingness to declare war as it is. I know there is a choice,” Kaine said. said.
BBC News Brasil has reached out to Planalto and Itamaraty for comment on the statements and the report will be updated as soon as there are positions.
‘France and moderate Guedes’
Bagley recognized the tension of the moment in his interview, but fitted his words into his answers.
“Bolsonaro has said a lot, but Brazil is a democracy, it has democratic institutions, it has an independent judiciary and a legislature, it has freedom of speech. They have all democratic institutions to hold free and fair elections. I know it will not be an easy process. ) comments, but nevertheless we have all these institutions and will continue to express confidence and expectation in a fair election.”
He also praised the performance of Foreign Minister Carlos França and Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, who according to Bagley was “moderate” and whose performance was “rejected” by Bolsonaro’s statements.
“I think most of Bolsonaro’s statements refute what his diplomats and government are doing. Chancellor France is actually very moderate and Minister Guedes is moderate. Actually, Brazil is very good in terms of votes in the UN,” said Bagley. Despite Bolsonaro’s sympathetic remarks to Putin, he referred to the fact that Brazil aligns with American positions to condemn Russian actions both in the Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly.
In an interview with BBC News Brazil ten days ago, Under-Secretary of State Victoria Nuland stated that the Americans warned Brazil about the possibility of Russian interference in the elections.
When asked by BBC News Brasil at the end of the event if he would be able to make it to Brazil in time to take part in the October election in person, he said he was “not sure”. It took months, even after the hearing, to approve ambassadors for strategic positions abroad, which are the responsibility of the Senate.
Republicans brought a slow pace to the endorsements, which left the Biden administration without many key representatives abroad.
Amazon and Huawei
Bagley also stated that Amazon will be a priority in his work. “One of my highest priorities will be to promote efforts to increase climate ambition and significantly reduce deforestation, protect (forest) defenders, and prosecute environmental crimes and related acts of violence,” he said in his keynote speech.
He praised Brazil’s commitment to zero deforestation by 2025, but acknowledged that little has been done about it so far. The Bolsonaro administration has collected records of Amazon coverage reduction.
On the subject, Democratic Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii questioned Brazil’s commitment to the goals set by Bolsonaro at COP-26 last year. “(Target) 2025 is worrying because there is no way for them (Brazilians) to achieve these goals. So we need to work to improve transparency, reporting and oversight because interacting is a challenge. With the Brazilian government (on the matter),” Schatz said.
Conservation of tropical forests is seen as a priority of the Biden administration and one of the problems of friction between Brazil and the United States. “Obviously, the Biden administration is a more left-wing government. It’s a government that’s almost obsessed with the environment, so this is getting a little bit of our way,” Bolsonaro said in August last year.
At Bagley’s Saturday session, Democratic lawmakers dominated hearings that only included the quick interventions of two Republican senators and focused on 5G issues in China’s influence and statements.
In line with the agenda of Republican Donald Trump, Bagley made it clear that the government before Biden will continue to pressure Brazil not to adopt Chinese giant Huawei’s technology in its 5G network. Despite pressure from the Americans, Brazil chose not to restrict the Chinese company’s participation in telecommunications networks.
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source: Noticias
