Bolsonaro mocks Macron’s wife

The spat between French president Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro just got personal.

The two leaders are currently embroiled in a feud over the fires that are raging through the Amazon rainforest, much of which is situated in Brazil, but their argument took a nasty turn when Mr Bolsonaro endorsed a post on Facebook insulting the French first lady, Brigitte Macron.
 

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro attend a meeting on the digital economy at the G20 Summit in Osaka. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

At 66, Brigitte is 25 years older than her husband, and the post compares Mr Bolsonaro, 64 and his wife Michelle, 37, with a photo of Mr. and Mrs Macron.

The caption read, “Now you understand why Macron is persecuting Bolsonaro?” Bolsonaro responded: “Do not humiliate the guy, ha ha,” referring to Mr Macron.

When asked about Mr Bolsonaro’s comment at the G7 summit on Monday, Mr Macron condemned it, saying, “He said very disrespectful things about my wife, I have great respect for the Brazilian people and can only hope they soon have a president who is up to the job.”

“Brazilian women are probably feeling ashamed of their president,” he added.

Michelle Bolsonaro, the wife of Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

This latest row between the French and Brazilian leaders follows heated discussions on social media over Mr Bolsonaro’s reaction to the Amazon fires.

Mr Macron shared a photo of the rainforest engulfed in flames last week with the caption, “Our house is burning, literally.” and urging a response to the crisis.

Mr Bolsonaro responded, “I regret that President Macron seeks to instrumentalize an internal issue of Brazil and other Amazonian countries for personal political gains.

The sensationalist tone with which he refers to the Amazon (appealing even to fake photos) does nothing to solve the problem.”

View of fire in the Amazon rainforest, near Abuna, Rondonia state, Brazil, on August 24, 2019. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Mr Macron announced over the weekend that the G7 countries would release 20 million euros ($A33 million) to help fight the raging fires in the Amazon.

Mr Bolsonaro, in turn, accused Mr Macron of “unreasonable and unreasonable attacks on the Amazon” and said that Macron disguises his intentions behind the idea of an “alliance” of the countries.