Bolsonaro Government Declares Venezuelan Diplomats Personae non Gratae in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Jair Bolsonaro government declared Venezuelan diplomats representing the Nicolás Maduro government in Brazil as “personae non gratae”.

On Friday, September 4th, the Foreign Ministry said it had informed the Venezuelan diplomatic, consular, and administrative staff that they were no longer welcome in the country.

In practice, Maduro’s officials may remain in Brazil, but they lose diplomatic or consular status, as well as immunities and privileges guaranteed internationally.

In a note, the Ministry of Foreign Relations reported that the “persona non grata” status is not equivalent to expulsion or any other compulsory removal of Venezuelans from national territory.

The Foreign Ministry argues that it is its prerogative to use the statement “to signal that a foreign official representative is no longer welcome as such in its territory”. The portfolio says that, as a result, Venezuela has the prerogative to remove them from Brazil.

The government’s decision comes after the Maduro government publicly demanded a reply to calls for a truce and cooperation in humanitarian and health efforts because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Recently, the Venezuelan consul in Boa Vista (Roraima State) was infected and died of Covid-19 complications after being transferred to the neighboring country.

The declaration is yet another sign of Bolsonaro’s hostility to the Chavista regime. The government considers Maduro “illegitimate” and recognizes Juan Guaidó, the opposition president of the National Assembly, as the leader of Venezuela.

Brazil had already decided to close its embassy in Caracas, in addition to its consular offices in Venezuela. Brazilians began to be directed to seek support in Colombia. Brazilian diplomats and officials were recalled – and those hired locally were dismissed.

For months the ambassador sent by Guaidó to Brasília, Maria Teresa Belandria, was calling on the Bolsonaro government for more forceful action against Maduro’s envoys.

A part of them had their credentials expired, but the group controls the embassy headquarters in the federal capital and the consulates.

Belandria is working from a hotel room. She met on Friday with ambassadors from the countries in the Lima Group, established in opposition to the Bolivarian regime.

Source: O Estado de S. Paulo