LatinNews Daily - 13 May 2019

Brazil: On 3 May Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro pulled out of a ceremony in his honour due to take place in New York following weeks of protest. In a statement, Bolsonaro’s spokesperson Otávio do Rêgo Barros blamed “resistance and deliberate attacks” from New York mayor Bill de Blasio as well as “pressure from lobbyists”. The event, due to take place on 14 May, had been organised by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. However, the decision to honour Bolsonaro as the organisation’s 2019 Person of the Year was met with resistance from New York businesses and cultural groups due to the president’s right-wing views and plans to develop large parts of the Amazon rainforest. The gala was originally meant to take place in the American Museum of Natural History, but after facing heavy criticism the museum decided not to host the event. In a tweet, the museum said it was not the “best place” for the gala. De Blasio condemned the decision to honour Bolsonaro in a radio interview. Following the news that the president would not be visiting New York the mayor tweeted that his “hatred is not welcome”.

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