Bolsonaro off-script speech leaves Brazilian diplomats fuming

Behind the scenes, Brazilian diplomats reacted with strong words to President Jair Bolsonaro’s opening address at the 76th UN General Assembly on Tuesday morning. 

Before the president took the stage, Foreign Affairs Ministry officials told the public Mr. Bolsonaro would deliver a “moderate” speech, following an address carefully drafted by Foreign Minister Carlos França. But, as we predicted in today’s edition of the Brazil Daily newsletter, Jair Bolsonaro went off-piste.

Mr. Bolsonaro once again used his privileged position as the UNGA’s opening speaker to talk directly to his most fervent supporters back home in Brazil — as he did in 2019 and 2020. The draft speech prepared by Brazil’s most seasoned diplomats underwent comprehensive edits at the last minute, following a meeting between the president and Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, his third-eldest son and his top foreign affairs advisor.

The young Bolsonaro made sure to insert talking points that would resonate with the president’s ever-narrowing support base, with sound bites easily clippable into short videos to be shared on social media.

UN speech: behind the scenes

As we explained on our Insider Live Blog, Mr. Bolsonaro used his speech to tout unproven coronavirus treatments, criticized mayors and governors for enacting Covid restrictions, offered no advance...