American writer says Bolsonaro's foreign minister exposes Brazil to ridicule.
American writer Benjamin Moser, winner of the Itamaraty Prize for Cultural Diplomacy in 2016 and author of Clarice Lispector's biography, wrote a letter addressed to Ernesto Araújo, Jair Bolsonaro's Minister of Foreign Affairs, stating that Brazil's image abroad has worsened under the new government, thanks to the "ridiculous" statements the minister has made about global warming, combating globalization, and other issues; "I have never seen so many bad articles about Brazil appear in the European and American press. This should be a cause for concern for a foreign minister," he said in a passage from the letter.
GGN Newspaper - American writer Benjamin Moser, winner of the Itamaraty Prize for Cultural Diplomacy in 2016 and author of Clarice Lispector's biography, wrote a letter addressed to Ernesto Araújo, Jair Bolsonaro's Minister of Foreign Affairs, stating that Brazil's image abroad has worsened under the new government, thanks to the "ridiculous" statements the minister has made about global warming, combating globalization, and other issues.
"(...) in just a few months, that image has already changed considerably. I fear it's not in the direction you intend. Because, in all my years as a Brazil enthusiast, I've never seen so many negative articles about Brazil appear in the European and American press. This should be a cause for concern for a foreign minister. Because Brazil, despite its problems, has always enjoyed a positive reputation in the world."
Moser warned Araújo that when a foreign minister addresses an international audience, he should avoid using terms like globalist, Marxist, anti-cosmopolitan, and Christian values, "which, in English, have strong anti-Semitic connotations. They are drawn from the lexicon of Jewish global conspiracy theories, and, given the history of this lexicon, civilized people, both right and left, have learned to avoid it."
The writer further warned that not only the chancellor, but other members of the Bolsonaro government – including the president himself – have brought Brazil's former good standing to its knees. "From day one, this government has given the impression of wanting to abuse the most vulnerable people in society. Newspapers around the world have reported on the attacks against indigenous people and the LGBT population, as well as the reduction of the minimum wage for the poorest workers."
Finally, Moser appeals to Araújo to stop embarrassing himself internationally and to behave in a manner befitting the office he holds. "On your Instagram, you describe yourself as 'Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bolsonaro government.' You are not. You are the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil. It would be good if you behaved with the dignity that such a position demands."