France’s Macron attacks ‘rude’ Brazil President Bolsonaro for mocking wife Brigitte
- Jair Bolsonaro mocked the French first lady’s physical appearance on social media
- The leaders have been feuding in recent weeks, with Macron blaming Bolsonaro for fires in the Amazon
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday condemned “extraordinarily rude” comments about his wife Brigitte by Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro in an escalating spat between the two men.
Bolsonaro and Macron have repeatedly locked horns in the last weeks as the French president sought to put climate change and the environment at the heart of agenda of the G7 summit he is hosting in Biarritz, as fires ravaged the Amazon basin.
But the endorsement by Bolsanaro of vicious personal comments about Macron’s wife posted online appeared to force their relationship to a new low.
“He has made some extraordinarily rude comments about my wife,” Macron said at a press conference in Biarritz.
“What can I say? It’s sad. It’s sad for him firstly, and for Brazilians,” he added.
On Sunday, a Bolsonaro supporter posted a message on Facebook mocking the appearance of Brigitte Macron and comparing her unfavourably with Brazil’s first lady Michelle Bolsonaro.