Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro accused his French counterpart on Thursday Emmanuel Macron to say “Idiots” when he says that Europe’s dependence on Brazilian soybeans “Endorses the deforestation of the Amazon”.
“For the love of God, Mr. Macron, do not buy Brazilian soybeans, as you do not deforest the Amazon. Buy soybeans in France », said ironically Jair Bolsonaro in his weekly communication live on social networks.
“Stop talking nonsense, Macron, you don’t know your country and you keep giving your opinion on Brazil”, added the far-right president, who since coming to power in 2019 has had numerous disputes with the French head of state over environmental policies.
« LThe protectionist interests of French farmers ”
On Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron had recommended to increase soybean production by Europe to be “Consistent with (our) ecological ambitions”.
“When we import soybeans that are made at a forced march on destroyed forest in Brazil, we are not consistent with ourselves”, Macron said in a video accompanying a message on Twitter.
To continue to depend on Brazilian soybeans would be to endorse the deforestation of the Amazon.
We are consistent with our ecological ambitions, we are fighting to produce soybeans in Europe! pic.twitter.com/CORHnlIp8E— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 12, 2021
This declaration had already earned Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday a reply from Brazilian Vice-President Hamilton Mourao.
“Mr. Macron does not know anything about soybean production in Brazil. Our soybean production is done in Cerrado (savannah region in the south of the Amazon, editor’s note) or in the south of the country. Agricultural production in the Amazon is tiny ”, Mr. Mourao said.
“Macron has relayed the protectionist interests of French farmers, nothing more, it’s part of the political game”, added Mr. Mourao, believing that the speech of the French president was addressed to a “Internal public”.
In 2019, Jair Bolsonaro had heated discussions with the French President on social networks after criticism from the French president on the increase in fires in the Amazon.
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