The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, gave this Saturday a “warm welcome” to the Portuguese president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on behalf of the “cultured Brazilian people” and invited him to intensify relations with the former capital of Brazil.
The words of Eduardo Paes contrast with the intention expressed by the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, to cancel the invitation he had made to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for a meeting followed by lunch on Monday in Brasilia, since he was going to meet with Lula . Silva in São Paulo on Sunday.
“President Marcelo, I cannot resist the comment: know, sir, that we are so happy to receive you in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that we arranged this beautiful winter day to receive Your Excellency,” declared the mayor, in a commemorative session of the centenary of the air crossing of the South Atlantic, in the 1st Naval District, in the center of the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Eduardo Paes invited the Portuguese local authorities and the President of Portugal “intensify its relations with Rioon the occasion of the commemorations of the 200 years of the independence of Brazil, which will be marked “with a series of actions throughout the city”.
“We have 200 years of history with Portugal, we have already built a lot together. With another 200 years to go, we will do even more,” she added.
At the end of his speech, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro addressed Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to give him “a warm welcome from the Brazilian people, from the educated Brazilian people, who admire the Portuguese people so much, who have so much identity with the Portuguese people.” .
“You are very welcome, you can’t imagine how much, to this country. We welcome you with open arms. Welcome to Rio de Janeiro and very welcome to Brazil”, reinforced Eduardo Paes.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa began a visit to Brazil this Saturday with visits to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasilia, until Monday.
For now, the Portuguese head of state has stated that he maintains “the same program he had in mind,” implying that Bolsonaro’s invitation to a meeting in Brasilia has not been formally withdrawn.
In September, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa plans to return to Brazil for the official celebrations of 200 years of independence from Portugal.
The Brazilian presidential elections, in which Jair Bolsonaro will run for office again and for which former Brazilian President Lula da Silva is also a candidate, are scheduled for October 2.
Source: Observadora
