Motion to repudiate the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, was presented by deputy Marcel van Hatten.| Photo: Elaine Menke/Chamber of Deputies

The Committee on Foreign Relations and National Defense of the Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday (31) a motion to repudiate the official visit of the Venezuelan dictator, Nicolás Maduro, to Brazil. The text had 22 votes in favor and 11 votes against.

For the deputies who authored the motion, Marcel van Hattem (Novo-RS) and Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), Maduro’s visit signals a serious message from Brazil on the international political scene. “This Commission repudiates the omission, inadequate and regrettable treatment that the Brazilian government is granting to the Venezuelan dictator and expresses that Brazil severely condemns the violations of democracy, human rights and individual freedoms in progress in Venezuela”, says the motion of repudiation approved.

President Maduro’s visit, on May 29 and 30, was the subject of critical speeches by opposition deputies to the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in this Wednesday’s session. Deputy Luiz Lima (PL-RJ) referred to the Venezuelan leader as a “narcodictator” and treated the celebration promoted by Lula as an “immense shame for the Brazilian nation”.

Deputy Adriana Ventura (Novo-SP) also highlighted shame as a feeling before the visit. “Shame is what we feel when we see a dictator, full of crimes, with a horrible record, being received with pomp and circumstance by the Lula government, with lunches and dinners”, said deputy Adriana.