Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, second left, his wife first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, left, Argentina's President Mauricio Macri, second right, and his wife first lady Juliana Awada pose for a picture at the government house in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, June 6, 2019.(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Republished June 06, 2019 - 12:51 PM
Original Publication Date June 06, 2019 - 10:06 AM
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro and Argentina's President Mauricio Macri reiterated their rejection of Venezuela's socialist president on Thursday as the conservative Brazilian leader paid a state visit to Buenos Aires.
Venezuela is suffering from an economic and governance crisis that has forced more than 3 million people to flee the country, and dozens of nations consider Maduro's government to be illegitimate.
Macri will seek re-election October and Bolsonaro has expressed support for his bid. He has also been critical of leftist former President Cristina Fernández, saying that if she returns return to power running as vice-president on the ticket with her former chief of staff, Argentina would suffer the same problems as Venezuela.
"All of South America is concerned that there will be no other Venezuelas in the region," Bolsonaro said on his first visit to Argentina.
Argentina and Brazil "will do everything possible to restore democracy in Venezuela," Macri added, as he stood alongside his Brazilian counterpart at the presidential palace.
The two presidents also discussed potential energy deals and the fight against corruption and organized crime, which is entrenched in both nations.
Macri said both countries would seek to improve South America's Mercosur trade bloc, which he said is "very close" to finishing a free trade deal with the European Union.
Brazil is Argentina's top trade partner, but both Macri and Bolsonaro are facing mounting challenges at home.
Argentines are frustrated by a recession, a sharp depreciation of the peso and a high inflation rate that have fueled protests.
Bolsonaro had a big election victory last year but is struggling to advance on his agenda and is also coping with a crashing currency. He has faced protests against plans for a spending freeze on education and has seen his approval ratings drop.
Activists in Argentina said they would stage demonstrations later in the day against Bolsonaro, who has disparaged women, blacks and gays and posted fake stories about reporters, declared Brazil shouldn't be allowed to become "a gay paradise" and insulted other politicians.
Amnesty International said it had sent a letter to Macri asking him to keep in mind Bolsonaro's aggressive rhetoric ahead of their meeting.
"The toxic words and the anti-rights rhetoric is now being turned into concrete measures in Brazil," the local branch of Amnesty said in a statement.
"Faced with policies that threaten the rights to life, liberty, and the land of the Brazilian population, we sent a letter to president Macri so that...he can take into account human rights."
During Bolsonaro's visit, Argentina also agreed to contribute with security measures during the Copa America soccer tournament that will be held in Brazil between June 14 and July 7.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019