Monday, November 1st, 2021
In the footsteps of his ancestors
Bolsonaro visits village instead of climate conference
At the UN climate conference in Glasgow, the heads of state and government debate the future of the planet. Brazil’s President Bolsonaro is not arriving. Instead, the 66-year-old goes on the trail of his ancestors in northern Italy. As so often, he throws all hygiene rules overboard.
While heads of state and government debated the climate crisis at the COP26 kick-off in Glasgow, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro used the day for a trip to a village in northern Italy. There he was made an honorary citizen today. “I am happy and touched to be here,” said the 66-year-old after a report by the Ansa news agency in Anguillara Veneta.
Bolsonaro’s ancestors once emigrated to South America from the place near Padua. Video footage showed how the president was greeted by cheering people upon his arrival. He allowed himself – without a mask – a short bath in the crowd.
But there were also protests against the controversial head of state: According to the authorities, around 200 demonstrators organized a rally in front of the town hall of Anguillara. Therefore, according to Bolsonaro Ansa, the daily routine has changed and the visit to the town hall has been canceled. On Tuesday he wants to meet the head of the right-wing Lega, Matteo Salvini.
Bolsonaro took part in the G20 deliberations in Rome over the weekend. The right-wing head of state decided not to travel to the UN climate conference in Glasgow. The Brazilian delegation at COP26 is led by Environment Minister Joaquim Leite.
Brazil is seen as a key player in the fight against climate change. In terms of area, its share in the Amazon region, an important reservoir for the climate-damaging greenhouse gas CO2, is as large as Western Europe. Bolsonaro sees the area as untapped economic potential. Recently, however, his government promised measures to preserve the Amazon region: The illegal deforestation of the rainforest is to end in 2027 or 2028.