The leaders of the world’s largest economies, meeting in Rome to discuss how to tackle the pandemic and climate crisis, put differences aside to play games in the corridors of the G20.
“You didn’t congratulate me on Argentina’s Copa América victory,” president Alberto Fernández told Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro, referring to the tournament’s final against Brazil.
Football was the topic discussed at the entrance to the venue for the so-called family photo, shortly before the official opening of the G20 summit, the first presence since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Fernández boasted of the victory, as the Brazilian president, with whom the Argentine has strong ideological differences, had predicted Brazil’s 5-0 triumph. The day before, Bolsonaro spent part of Friday (29) living “la dolce vita”, tasting delicacies near the Pantheon and posing at the Trevi Fountain, in a tour he posted on Twitter with the Italian anthem in the background.
The Argentine president also did not miss the opportunity this Saturday to greet the president of the United States, Democrat Joe Biden, and express his “great interest” in meeting him.
“Yesterday I was with an Argentine who was very close to you,” Biden replied, referring to the long meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, members of the delegations present told the press.
“Hello Joe!” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he greeted the American leader in a rather casual tone after arriving a little late and pretending to push French leader Emmanuel Macron.
For the first time, the G20 family photo brought doctors and firefighters, who were on the front lines in the battle against the pandemic, a “wonderful idea”, according to German Prime Minister Angela Merkel.
Reconciliation between the United States and France after Australia’s submarine crisis, announced the day before at a meeting between the two leaders at the French embassy in the Vatican, was evident on Saturday. Biden was seen sitting beside Macron and chatting amiably.
At the same time, their respective wives, Jill and Brigitte, toured Rome on a touristic tour together with other guests, with stops at the Coliseum and the Sistine Chapel. Afterwards, the directors were invited to a luxurious dinner at the seat of the Italian presidency, the Quirinale Palace, whose menu will be a feast of Italian cuisine: pumpkin risotto, stuffed artichokes and, of course, lots of wine.
.
