What Bolsonaro's Brazil wants from Narendra Modi's India

Jan 24, 2020 14:20 4 min read

President Jair Bolsonaro’s crude manner, constant attacks on the press, and willingness to dismantle Brazil’s environmental controls have earned him some contempt from the international community. In India, though, where today he begins a four-day visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will roll out the red carpet to the Brazilian far-right leader. Mr. Bolsonaro will be the “chief guest” at India’s Republic Day celebrations, on January 26—the highest honor to a foreign head of state.

The two leaders share many traits in common, the biggest of all being their ultra-nationalist rhetoric and disregard for minorities. Both have...

Access all of The Brazilian Report

Start your 7-day free trial.

Free trial

What Bolsonaro wants from India

The Brazilian president will take part in India's Republic Day celebrations—and hopes to improve bilateral relations and trade between the two countries

Access all of The Brazilian Report

Start your 7-day free trial.

Brazil’s Defense Minister and his “threats to democracy”

A major Brazilian newspaper published alleged threats made by Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto, saying that next year's election would be canceled unless Congress reintroduces paper ballots

Calls for a semi-presidential system in Brazil: profound change, or diversion tactics?

House Speaker Arthur Lira is under immense pressure to launch impeachment proceedings against his close ally, President Bolsonaro. In a bid to change the subject, he is now pushing for a radical change in Brazil's political system

Bolsonaro’s increasingly empty diary a sign of his political isolation

President Bolsonaro has met with lower house representatives just 60 times since the beginning of the year, signaling that his support in Congress is dwindling at the same pace as his public approval ratings

Understanding the complicated web of Brazil’s vaccine scandals

Senators in the Covid inquiry are currently investigating two separate — yet connected — scandals involving vaccine purchases by the federal government. We break down who's who in each case

Doctors “satisfied” with Bolsonaro’s health condition

It is still unclear when the president will be discharged from the hospital. With details scarce, observers fear his condition could be worse than reported

Foreign direct investment in June lowest for Brazil since 1995

Mariana disaster’s case reopens in UK courts

Bolsonaro meets with German far-right figurehead

Bolsonaro shifts tone on campaign fund as Supreme Court weighs in

Meeting postponed with Bolsonaro’s new Chief of Staff

High sea freight costs continue harming Brazilian exports

A double whammy of the pandemic and the Suez Canal blockage means freight rates have soared, with few alternative means of transport for Brazilian exporters

Brazilian women to take Bayer to court over Essure side effects

Over 300 women plan to launch a class action for damages from the pharmaceutical giant, complaining that they developed severe complications after implanting Bayer's permanent contraceptive Essure

Argentina a cautionary tale as Brazil moves to privatize postal service

Bolsonaro’s Economy Minister looks to complete his first privatization, but the matter remains controversial, and may only create a private monopoly instead

Brazilian consumers struggle to engage in sustainable consumption

Brazilians have become keener about pursuing green concerns, but income restraints and economic hardship are getting in the way of widespread adoption

Hit by semiconductor crisis, Brazilian auto industry struggles to accelerate

Despite healthy demand, especially for heavy commercial vehicles, supply problems are holding the sector back

Tech Roundup: sugarcane ethanol less polluting than once thought

The most important news on tech and innovation in Brazil this week

Tech Roundup: Brazil’s supercomputer under threat

The main news about Brazilian tech and innovation this week

Tech Roundup: How AI helps Brazil’s health system

The main news on tech and innovation in Brazil during the week

Tech Roundup: Equity crowdfunding a potential boost for Brazilian startups

The week's most important news on technology, innovation, and investment in Brazil

Tech Roundup: Startups tapping into solar power business

The weekly tech roundup is a digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

Explaining Brazil #161: Little transparency around presidents’ health

President Bolsonaro has recently been discharged from the hospital. While he was in, however, conflicting reports about his health made the Brazilian public suspicious

Explaining Brazil #160: Bolsonaro’s Evangelical justice

Jair Bolsonaro is using a Supreme Court nomination to rally his base. We explain the effects of his appointment on Brazilian justice and politics.

Explaining Brazil #159: Leite is no Milk

Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul came out as gay. But don't expect him to be a Brazilian Harvey Milk. Instead, he might be closer to Pete Buttigieg

Explaining Brazil #158: Never-ending vaccine scandals

The Bolsonaro administration purposely stalled vaccine deals with Pfizer. Now, members of the government are suspected of having asked for bribes before purchasing immunizers

Explaining Brazil #157: The Anti-Bolsonaro dilemma

What is keeping anti-Bolsonaro demonstrations from actually threatening the government in a more meaningful way

Chile has lowest number of Covid-19 cases since April 2020

Bogotá permits return of nightclubs and fans at football matches

Brazilian regulators suspend Covaxin import authorization

For economic reasons, Mexico rejects new lockdown

Eleven Latin American countries above global vaccination average

German and Swiss guns fuel armed conflict and police violence in Brazil

More and more European-made guns are among the most lethal firearms seized by Brazilian police

How many Brazilians are moving to the U.S.?

The rate of migration to the U.S. usually follows economic conditions at home in Brazil. We crunched the numbers with a view to identifying trends

Brazilian public school kids go gaga for radio classes

Distance learning has been an extreme challenge for Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic, with millions of students unable to access online teaching platforms. The solution? The tried and trusted radio

Covid spikes in Brazil’s North were even deadlier than believed

Gross coronavirus death figures do not account for age differences between populations. A recent study found that mortality in northern cities was even more pronounced than initially measured

The rise of ‘vaccine sommeliers’ in Brazil

Thanks to waves of misinformation and vaccine skepticism spread on Brazilian social media, many citizens are now reluctant to take AstraZeneca or Sinovac immunizers, potentially compromising the country's vaccination efforts

Diseases in the Amazon and their links to deforestation

A recent study encountered a direct link between increased deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and a number of mosquito-borne diseases. Researchers also charted the spread of Covid-19 in the Amazon

Brazil’s new soy railway a threat to the environment, say experts

The Ferrogrão project involves building a railway directly from Brazil's soy belt to its major ports in the north. But construction would take works right through major conservation areas, threatening the livelihood of indigenous peoples

Flames return to the Pantanal, scientists fear disaster

Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, was devastated by fires last year. Blazes have returned and experts warn that droughts could make 2021 even worse for the region

The underexplored risks of hydroelectric power

Brazil's energy matrix is overly reliant on hydroelectric power. While a comparatively clean energy source, it is not without its dangers — which Brazil is experiencing after its driest summer in 91 years

The legacy of Ricardo Salles as Brazil’s Environment Minister

As a member of the cabinet, Ricardo Salles was very closely aligned with the president's vision of “development.” He may prove to have been one of Mr. Bolsonaro’s most consequential ministers

Bukele: closer to Beijing, distant from Washington

Nayib Bukele, the increasingly powerful president of El Salvador, is gambling on a risky strategy of rapprochement with Beijing

Moïse assassination plunges Haiti further into uncertainty

Jovenel Moïse was deploying increasingly authoritarian measures against his opposition. But his death will not bring peace to Haiti

Life expectancy another marker of urban inequality in Latin America

A recent study shows the vast life expectancy differences between Latin American cities, showing massive disparities between nations and even within the same countries