Merz’s spokesperson rejects claims he disparaged Brazil after his COP summit visit, defending the chancellor as Brazilian officials voice strong criticism.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the mayor of Belem, the governor of Para state, and a number of congressmen retaliated against remarks Merz made last week after visiting Belem on November 7. In a speech to a trade conference in Berlin, Merz seemed to be attempting to put criticisms about the current state of affluent Germany whose economy is struggling to produce growth into perspective.
“We live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Last week I asked some journalists who were with me in Brazil: Which of you would like to stay here? No one raised their hand,”
Merz said.
“They were all happy that, above all, we returned from this place to Germany in the night from Friday to Saturday.”
Stefan Kornelius, a spokesman for Merz, stated on Wednesday that
"it is far from the chancellor to comment in a derogatory way about Brazil."
During a routine government press briefing, he said that Merz had
"very intensively deepened the excellent relations Germany has with Brazil"
during his brief visit.
Merz had a "very positive" impression of his trip, according to Kornelius, and
"there is no doubt that Brazil is our most important partner geostrategically and economically in South America."
He stated that the contentious statement
"essentially concerned the wish of the delegation to return home after a very tiring night flight and a long day in Belem."
"The chancellor's claim that our country is among the most beautiful in the world does not negate the beauty of other nations."
When asked if he saw any harm to relationships or if Merz would apologize, Kornelius said, "No, twice."
How has Germany responded diplomatically to the backlash in Brazil?
Germany's primary politic response to the counterreaction over Chancellor Friedrich Merz's commentary about Belém has been to deny any intent to affront Brazil or its people.
According to reports, Merz's prophet emphasized that the reflections weren't meant as review of Brazil but were intended to praise Germany, and claimed that Merz holds deep respect for Brazil and its part in transnational climate accommodations.
German officers haven't issued an sanctioned reason, and the line taken in both German and Brazilian media has concentrated on minimizing escalation. sanctioned German statements framed the incident as a misreading, with sympathizers pressing that the Chancellor was opining on the difficulties of the working trip rather than making a direct judgment about Brazil or Belém.