This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/20/brazil-bolsonaro-son-us-ambassador
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Brazil's Bolsonaro may drop plans to make son US ambassador amid backlash | Brazil's Bolsonaro may drop plans to make son US ambassador amid backlash |
(30 minutes later) | |
Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has signalled he may abandon controversial plans to make his son ambassador to the United States, amid a fierce political backlash and growing signs Congress may block the move. | |
“I’m not going to subject my son to failure,” Bolsonaro told reporters on Tuesday in what was the first public hint he may be reconsidering his nomination. | “I’m not going to subject my son to failure,” Bolsonaro told reporters on Tuesday in what was the first public hint he may be reconsidering his nomination. |
Bolsonaro’s bid to hand control of Brazil’s Washington DC embassy to his 35-year-old son, Eduardo, has outraged Brazil’s foreign service and set off a domestic political firestorm. | Bolsonaro’s bid to hand control of Brazil’s Washington DC embassy to his 35-year-old son, Eduardo, has outraged Brazil’s foreign service and set off a domestic political firestorm. |
A report prepared for senators who need to approve Bolsonaro’s move concluded it amounted to nepotism and identified three distinctly undemocratic precedents where leaders had made their children ambassadors: in Saudi Arabia, Chad and Uzbekistan. | A report prepared for senators who need to approve Bolsonaro’s move concluded it amounted to nepotism and identified three distinctly undemocratic precedents where leaders had made their children ambassadors: in Saudi Arabia, Chad and Uzbekistan. |
Eduardo Bolsonaro’s appointment must be approved by a simple majority in Brazil’s 81-member senate, where such proposals are seldom challenged. But there are growing indications senators may block the nomination. | Eduardo Bolsonaro’s appointment must be approved by a simple majority in Brazil’s 81-member senate, where such proposals are seldom challenged. But there are growing indications senators may block the nomination. |
This week, 29 senators told the Estado de São Paulo newspaper they would reject Bolsonaro’s move, while only 15 declared support. Of the remaining 36 senators with a vote, seven were undecided and 29 declined to comment. | |
“They are having difficulty they were not expecting,” said Thiago de Aragão, a political analyst. | “They are having difficulty they were not expecting,” said Thiago de Aragão, a political analyst. |
“The presidential palace is calculating and monitoring [the situation] very closely. If they make a decision to call the vote, it’s because they feel secure with the result.” | “The presidential palace is calculating and monitoring [the situation] very closely. If they make a decision to call the vote, it’s because they feel secure with the result.” |
On Tuesday afternoon, Eduardo Bolsonaro rejected speculation his father was rethinking his nomination. “I feel confident and hopeful,” he was quoted as saying. | |
Jair Bolsonaro claims his son’s ties to the Trump clan would be a boon to US-Brazil ties. The Bolsonaros are enthusiastic Trump supporters, with Eduardo sporting “Trump 2020” and “Make Brazil Great Again” caps during a recent trip to Washington. | |
Eduardo Bolsonaro is also the South American representative of the Movement, the far-right group created by Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon. | Eduardo Bolsonaro is also the South American representative of the Movement, the far-right group created by Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon. |
But Bolsonaro’s plan has triggered an outcry of disapproval from across the political spectrum. | But Bolsonaro’s plan has triggered an outcry of disapproval from across the political spectrum. |
“It is a flagrant case of nepotism, unprecedented in the history of the Republic. It is an indecency, a mockery – it is outright nepotism,” said Randolfe Rodrigues, the opposition leader in the senate. | “It is a flagrant case of nepotism, unprecedented in the history of the Republic. It is an indecency, a mockery – it is outright nepotism,” said Randolfe Rodrigues, the opposition leader in the senate. |
Bolsonaro has been unapologetic. “I intend to benefit my son, yes. If I can give my son filet mignon, I will,” the rightwing populist said last month. | Bolsonaro has been unapologetic. “I intend to benefit my son, yes. If I can give my son filet mignon, I will,” the rightwing populist said last month. |
Eduardo Bolsonaro, an elected congressman, has been ridiculed for claiming the fact he had “fried hamburgers in the United States” during a study abroad program qualified him to be Brazil’s ambassador. | Eduardo Bolsonaro, an elected congressman, has been ridiculed for claiming the fact he had “fried hamburgers in the United States” during a study abroad program qualified him to be Brazil’s ambassador. |
Brazil | Brazil |
Americas | Americas |
news | news |
Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
Share via Email | Share via Email |
Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
Reuse this content | Reuse this content |
Previous version
1
Next version