Happy Monday! Today, Jair Bolsonaro goes to the UN General Assembly to address the international community. The government continues to try and tame the control of misinformation.
Bolsonaro ❤️ NY. But does NY ❤️ him back?
President Jair Bolsonaro arrived in New York City yesterday ahead of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). As usual, Brazil will speak first — and we shall find out tomorrow if Foreign Minister Carlos França was successful in convincing his boss to “deliver the right messaging” to the international community.
- As we revealed last week, Mr. França is pushing for the president’s UN appearance to be focused on three pillars: Covid vaccines, economic recovery, and climate action.
Why it matters. Mr. Bolsonaro’s last two UN addresses were short, filled with misinformation, and tapped into issues that would only resonate with Brazilian audiences — leaving most international observers confused.
Photo ops. Mr. Bolsonaro’s lackadaisical approach to climate issues and recent putschist protests he led in Brasília and São Paulo have turned him into a sort of “radioactive” presence many foreign leaders would prefer to avoid.
- European Council President Charles Michel, for example, turned down bilateral talks for that reason, sources told Brasília correspondent André Spigariol.