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Rio Mayor calls Germany’s Merz “Nazi” over Belem remark
(MENAFN) Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes labeled German Chancellor Friedrich Merz a “Nazi” in a now-deleted post on X after Merz made disparaging comments about the Brazilian city of Belem, which hosted the UN Climate Summit earlier this month, according to reports.
Merz, who attended the international event, had returned to Berlin and shared his impressions of Belem at a trade conference last Thursday. He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, we live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Last week, I asked some journalists who were with me in Brazil: ‘Who among you would like to stay here?’ Not one hand raised. They were all glad that we had returned to Germany, especially from this place we had just been to.”
His remarks drew backlash from several Brazilian officials who viewed the comments as dismissive of their country. In his X post, Paes wrote: “Son of Hitler! Tramp! Nazi!” He later deleted the post and explained in a follow-up message that it was simply “his way of letting off steam today.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested that Merz had only himself to blame for failing to appreciate Belem, noting that the city compares favorably to Berlin. Helder Barbalh, governor of Para state where Belem is located, remarked on X: “It’s curious to see those who helped warm the planet find the Amazon’s heat strange.”
Merz, speaking on Wednesday, defended his statement: “I said that Germany is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and I assume President Lula will accept that.”
While the comments have caused a stir in Brazil, reactions in Germany have been more muted.
Katharina Droge of the Green Party criticized the chancellor, saying the “image the Chancellor projected during his trip to Brazil was disastrous.”
Merz, who attended the international event, had returned to Berlin and shared his impressions of Belem at a trade conference last Thursday. He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, we live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Last week, I asked some journalists who were with me in Brazil: ‘Who among you would like to stay here?’ Not one hand raised. They were all glad that we had returned to Germany, especially from this place we had just been to.”
His remarks drew backlash from several Brazilian officials who viewed the comments as dismissive of their country. In his X post, Paes wrote: “Son of Hitler! Tramp! Nazi!” He later deleted the post and explained in a follow-up message that it was simply “his way of letting off steam today.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested that Merz had only himself to blame for failing to appreciate Belem, noting that the city compares favorably to Berlin. Helder Barbalh, governor of Para state where Belem is located, remarked on X: “It’s curious to see those who helped warm the planet find the Amazon’s heat strange.”
Merz, speaking on Wednesday, defended his statement: “I said that Germany is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and I assume President Lula will accept that.”
While the comments have caused a stir in Brazil, reactions in Germany have been more muted.
Katharina Droge of the Green Party criticized the chancellor, saying the “image the Chancellor projected during his trip to Brazil was disastrous.”
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