Good morning! Today, Mercosur meets under a cloud of tension between members. Brazil’s Presbyterian Church set to push back on left-wing churchgoers. Lula makes presidential run official.
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Mercosur’s awkward meeting
Paraguay hosts a Mercosur summit today, but the meeting is likely to be an uncomfortable one, marred by absences and political tension.
Absences … Of the bloc’s four members, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro will be a no-show, sending only a taped statement to be broadcast. Media reports say the president will join the summit via video call, but the event is not listed on Mr. Bolsonaro’s schedule for the day.
- Gabriel Boric of Chile, invited as the leader of associated countries, also suspended his participation.
… and tensions. Paraguay has asked for reparations for the devastation that occurred during the war opposing the country to the Triple Alliance (Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay) 152 years ago.
- Uruguay, meanwhile, is going against Mercosur rules by negotiating a trade deal with China on its own, without the consent of the other partners.
- Not...