Michel Temer regrets Bolsonaro’s stance and praises Marcelo’s reaction after canceling meeting

Michel Temer, Brazil’s former president, on Monday deplored Brazilian head of state Jair Bolsonaro’s treatment of his Portuguese counterpart and praised Marcelo Rebelo de Souza’s “very delicate” response.

Before meeting with the President of Portugal at a hotel in Sao Paulo, Michel Temer was asked by journalists about Jair Bolsonaro’s decision to cancel the official meeting scheduled for this Monday in Brasilia.

“I’m sorry. I think it would be a great moment to practically start the celebration of Brazil’s independence. A good conversation between the President of Portugal and the President of Brazil would be extremely helpful. Michel Temer.

In his opinion, “President Marcelo was very polite when he said: look, the one who invites, keeps or does not keep the invitation, I have no problem with that.”

“I’ll tell him [Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa] I am very sorry about what happened. Now I do not have the institutional conditions – I do not hold any public office – to speak on behalf of Brazil, ”Temer added.

Jair Bolsonaro announced through the media that he would no longer host his Portuguese counterpart in Brasilia, a decision he justified by the fact that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was going to meet with former President Lula da Silva in Sao Paulo. The two will face each other in the presidential election scheduled for October 2nd.

Asked if the episode created a diplomatic problem between the two countries, Temer replied: “I hope not. I think that Brazilian diplomacy is well aware of relations not only with all countries, but especially with Portugal.”

If Bolsonaro had “asked him for advice”, he would have advised: “Welcome President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, he is our partner, the President of Portugal, in addition to being a very handsome, delicate, extremely well-built figure.”

The ex-head of state stressed that this is the year of the bicentenary of Brazil’s independence, which is celebrated on September 7: “We are also going through a very important historical period.”