Jair Bolsonaro picks a fight with Chile, after defending the gruesome Pinochet regime. Internally, he is also set to fight with Congress, after deciding to veto several parts of a law to curb ‘excesses’ by investigators. The pension reform advances. Today is Amazon Day, but there is little to celebrate. (This newsletter is for platinum subscribers only. Become one now!)
After France, Bolsonaro targets Chile
Less than two weeks removed from his exchange of blows with French President Emmanuel Macron, Jair Bolsonaro created a new controversy—this time, causing problems with Chile. It started when former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet (the current UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) criticized rising police violence in Brazil. That led Mr. Bolsonaro to praise Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship, which killed and/or tortured over 40,000 people in 16 years—among which was Ms. Bachelet’s own father.
Why it matters. Mr. Bolsonaro’s words continue to cast a negative light on Brazil on the international stage, which could have repercussions come the next UN General Assembly, which will take place later this month. The president managed to unite both Chile’s left- and right-wing against him—just before a bilateral meeting between foreign ministers around trade and cooperation.
Brazil-Chile. Chile is Brazil’s...