Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa denied today that he felt uncomfortable being next to Brazil’s Chief Executive Officer Jair Bolsonaro (PL) on the official platform to see the traditional September 7 parade this year. Bicentennial of Brazilian Independence. The incident took place this morning on the Esplanada dos Ministérios in Brasília.
The two were supposed to meet during the official visit of the Portuguese president in early July. However, Bolsonaro canceled the meeting after Marcelo had an agenda with former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT).
According to the newspaper O Globo, the Portuguese president spoke to journalists at a hotel in Brasilia after the parade. When asked if he was comfortable being with the Brazilian president on the platform, he simply said, “Yes, yes.”
The Portuguese also denied hearing pro-Bolsonaro slogans against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT), who was also vying for the Planalto Palace and ranked first in the polls.
I couldn’t hear the slogans from the podium, I saw the stands full of Brazilians.
Regarding his presence at the event, Rebelo said that he is fulfilling his role as head of state of Portugal as it is a unique moment for Brazil and Portugal.
“Whoever the President is, I’m here to represent Portugal at a historic moment. People have to understand that the election campaign is taking a long time, the President’s tenure is taking much longer, and 200 years of history is taking much longer. It is being ready at a historical moment,” he said.
The Portuguese politician concluded by saying that his relationship with the countries is to represent the Portuguese nation.
“The important thing is that there are one million Portuguese living in Brazil and 250,000 Brazilians living in Portugal and these will continue. [nos países] Whatever the president, whatever the government, and my role is to represent the Portuguese nation.”
Other international companies
Several officials attended the event and stood by President Bolsonaro in a space for them. In addition to the Portuguese president, other top officials from Portuguese-speaking countries were present at the parade in Brasília: José Maria Neves from Cape Verde and Umaro Sissoco Embaló from Guinea-Bissau.
The government of Mozambique, another Portuguese-speaking country, was represented by Constantino Alberto Bacela, Minister of Civil Assembly Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic of Mozambique.
Zacarias Albano da Costa, secretary general of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), was also present at the parade.
source: Noticias
