Bolsonaro refused meeting with UK chancellor in London

President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) refused a working meeting with the United Kingdom’s Foreign Minister, James Cleverly, offered by the British on the occasion of the Brazilian’s participation in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The administration of Liz Truss raised the possibility of a bilateral meeting between the Brazilian delegation and Cleverly, to deal with diplomatic relations between the two countries, with the justification that the Prime Minister herself – who took over the government two weeks ago – would not have conditions to carry out work schedules with the dozens of representatives who traveled to the United Kingdom.

The British stressed, however, that they would like the heads of government and their representatives to hold meetings with high-ranking members.

Truss had only five face-to-face bilateral meetings, plus one phone call, at the time of the funeral. Between Saturday (17) and Sunday (18), he met with the prime ministers of Australia (Anthony Albanese), New Zealand (Jacinda Ardern), Ireland (Micheál Martin) and Canada (Justin Trudeau) and received the president from Poland, Andrzej Duda. He also spoke by phone with UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan.

Sought after, the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos França, told Sheet that the offer of bilateral meeting with Cleverly was protocol and made to “all foreign dignitaries invited to the funeral” of the Queen.

“However, President Bolsonaro and First Lady Michelle’s trip to London had a very tight schedule: we were only on British soil for 32 hours. In addition, internal displacements were long, there were many control barriers throughout the city. time, therefore, for bilaterals”, said França.

Bolsonaro attended a reception offered by Cleverly to foreign presidents at the British chancellery on Monday afternoon. Only representatives and spouses were invited.

France also stated that, although he did not participate in the reception, he intends to greet his counterpart in person during the UN General Assembly (United Nations), whose debates begin this Tuesday (20) in New York – the Brazilian president speaks at the opening of the event and traveled to the US shortly after leaving London.

Despite the short time in the United Kingdom and the purpose of the trip being the funeral of Elizabeth II, Bolsonaro used his visit to the United Kingdom to campaign politically, in a speech to supporters on the balcony of the official residence of the Brazilian ambassador in London. “Our Brazil will be these colors here: green and yellow”, he declared.

The group in front of the place prayed, sang the Brazilian anthem and then shouted phrases such as “Lula, thief, your place is in prison”, in reference to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), Bolsonaro’s main opponent in the presidential elections and first placed in the voting intentions.

In another conversation with supporters, he maintained his electoral tone and attacked Lula. “Do you have any doubts that Brazil is the promised land? Why insist on putting a thief back in the Presidency?”

The president also went to a gas station to compare local prices with Brazilian ones and defend his fuel policy.

Bolsonaro’s visit to London also generated scenes of arguments in front of the ambassador’s residence. Supporters of the president confronted a British citizen who defended the right to free expression, after a man opposed the group and shouted “myth is Jesus”.

He was surrounded and heard shouts like “PT thief” and “go to Venezuela”, until retired Englishman Chris Harvey came to his defense. He said that once in the UK, the harassed man had every right to protest without feeling threatened. “People need to be respectful; the queen’s funeral has just taken place.”

On Sunday, two Brazilian journalists who work for the British network BBC were harassed, also in the vicinity of the ambassador’s residence, when they were working.