Self-exaltation: Jair Bolsonaro used official decorations on himself and also on his family

The president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, was too generous in awarding medals e honors its ideological allies, ministers, loyalists and family members. it was also with himself.

It is that same Bolsonaro he received six decorations from his own government. Its unusual official decorations were the subject of a report by the AP news agency, which detailed the abuse of the Brazilian president’s controversial appealing appeals.

A few days ago, businessman Elon Musk arrived in Brazil for the first time and a few hours has been awarded a prestigious award while shaking hands with Bolsonaro

It was this award that led the news agency to collect the medals awarded during the Brazilian’s tenure and the result was astonishing.

Tesla and Space X’s boss was the first foreign civilian without a government post that has received the medal from the Ministry of Defense since its creation in 2002, according to the Associated Press archival study.

In Bolsonaro’s cabinet over 75% of its ministers current or past has received at least one of the three medals considered the most prestigious: the Order of Defense, the Order of Rio Branco and the Victory Medal.

From 2019 at least granted 76 of the three medals to his ministersmore than all of his three direct predecessors during his two terms.

Also granted Bolsonaro three medals of different types a his wife Michela Already your sonthe senator Flavio. Your son Eduardowho is a legislator, has at least received six.

The purpose of the awards is “create the look of to be surrounded by worthy peopleof great caliber ”, denounced the political scientist Carlos MeloInsper University.

“Someone might be, but the same cannot be said for everyone” the decorated, criticized the analyst.

In an article titled “The farce of the medals”, published in November, the weekly Istoè wrote that Bolsonaro had transformed the government into a distributor of medals.

The presidential palace did not respond to questions from the AP agency about the motifs of the decorations.

Presidents and medals

Unusual and abusive as the resource that is Bolsonaro’s award policy, it is not entirely original.

Heads of state often award decorations for dubious reasons. Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushnerreceived Mexico’s highest honor, the Order of the Aztec Eagle, for his help in renegotiating the trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Barack Obama has awarded more presidential medals of freedom than any of his predecessors, including the billionaire Warren Buffet and its own vice president, Joe Biden.

But it’s not that common for a president to decorate himself. The same medal awarded to Musk was awarded to Bolsonaro on the day of his inauguration, January 1, 2019.

Since then, the retired army captain has amassed others of varying importance, especially from the military. In March he received two from his Ministry of Justice, one of which celebrates eselfless service to indigenous peoples.

The fact useless environmentalists, human rights activists and indigenous groups, who believe that by promoting economic development in indigenous territories, the president causes deep damage.

Claim in Bolivia

Last week the president of Brazil complained that Bolivia had cut 30% of the gas to be sold to Argentina and fired the president of Petrobras, as well as insisting that there is an “orchestrated” plan against it. he.

“Bolivia has cut 30% of the gas to be delivered to Argentina. How has Petrobras reacted to this problem? Gas, if we have to buy it somewhere else, is 5 times more expensive.who will pay the bill And who will they hold responsible? It’s a deal that seems to be orchestrated exactly to benefit you, you know, “Bolsonaro said, referring to Lula Da Silva, a direct rival in the upcoming election.

The increase in gas sales from Bolivia to Argentina occurred after the (agreement reached between the public company Ieasa (the former Enarsa) and its Bolivian counterpart, YPFB.

It is an “addendum” to the contract that both countries have had for more than 15 years. “We arrived with a supply of 7.5 million cubic meters a day from Bolivia, and this week it will reach between 10 and 11 million. By the middle of the year, it will be around 16 million meters,” he said. Agustín Gerez, head of IEASA, just over a month ago.

The difference between what Bolivia would have bought – those 10 million cubic meters – and what was finally agreed – 16 million – results in savings of between $ 4.5 million and $ 6 million per day, according to official sources. . If the agreement is respected in this way between June and July, Argentina will pay between 300 and 350 million dollars less for Bolivian gas than if it imported it by ship.

Source: agencies.

DS