Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro apologized on Tuesday for insinuating that some Venezuelan refugee girls had turned to prostitution in Brasilia, but said his words had been distorted by the opposition.
“If those words taken out of context in bad faith have been misunderstood in any way and embarrassed our Venezuelan sisters, then I apologize”Bolsonaro said in a video released as part of his campaign for the second round of elections.
On the 2nd, Jair Bolsonaro, who is seeking re-election, had 43.2% of the vote in the first round, compared to 48.4% obtained by former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the candidate of the Progressive Front he met. will face again October 30. .
Last weekend, the president caused a stir when he stated in an interview that he had seen some very “beautiful” Venezuelan women on a street corner while riding a motorcycle through Brasília.
Bolsonaro said he “painted a climate,” a phrase that defines a possible sexual interest in Brazil, which he approached and asked to enter the home of the young women, who he believes were between 14 and 15 years old.
“I wonder. Pretty girls, 14 or 15, dressed for Saturday. For what? To earn a living.”said Bolsonaro, who for these statements was even accused of “pedophilia” by Lula da Silva’s campaign because of his alleged interest in girls.
The Institute of Migration and Human Rights (IMDH), one of the entities helping Venezuelans arriving in Brazil, rejected these statements in a note, guaranteeing that there is “no evidence of child prostitution” in the community quoted by Bolsonaro.
“Statements like this stigmatize the Venezuelan population in Brazil and contribute to the construction of false stereotypes about migrants”the statement said.
He added that the young women that day were in fact attending hairdressing and makeup courses offered to Venezuelans to help them find work.
In the apology video, the president appeared with his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, and Venezuelan María Teresa Belandría, ambassador appointed by Juan Guaidó to Brazil, recognized by the Brazilian government as the “legitimate president” of Venezuela. .
According to Bolsonaro, the statement that sparked the controversy was only intended to underline his “concern” at “avoiding any form of exploitation of vulnerable women” and was “taken out of context” by “left-wing militants” seeking to take advantage of this. electoral moment.
Source: DN
