Friedrich Merz will not apologize and did not disparage Brazil or Belém during a speech last week, declared the spokesperson and communications secretary of Merz’s government in an official statement.
“I would like to clarify the context once again, as I perceive a certain agitation around this topic that has little to do with the facts”, highlighted Stefan Kornelius when asked if the German government was thinking about apologizing.
During a speech at the German Trade Congress, Merz highlighted the beauty of Germany by highlighting that his delegation returned to its country of origin after leaving Belém, the venue for COP30. On the occasion, the German Prime Minister questioned ‘who wanted to return to Brazil’ and highlighted that no one raised their hand.
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“When the Prime Minister says that we live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, that does not mean that other countries are not also very beautiful”, Kornelius added to journalists this Wednesday (19).
Previously, the German spokesman had already commented that Merz’s speech was being presented in an ‘incriminating way’ and was instead referring to after the trip.
Controversy and repercussion
The President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), reacted this Tuesday (18) to the comment widely publicized in the international press. In a humorous tone, Lula refuted the supposed ‘complaint’ about Belém.
“The Prime Minister of Germany complained these days: ‘I went to Pará and came back straight away because I really like Berlin’. He, in fact, should have gone to a bar in Pará. He should have danced in Pará. He should have tried the cuisine of Pará. He would realize that Berlin doesn’t offer him 10% of the quality that the State of Pará and the city of Belém offer. I said all the time: ‘Eat the maniçoba, man'” during the inauguration of a bridge that connects the municipalities of Xambioá (TO) to São Geraldo do Araguaia (PA).
Other Brazilian authorities did not have the same good humor in responding to the criticism. On social media, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes (PSD), called Merz “Hitler’s puppy” and a “Nazi”.
