By Arkady Petrov
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Speaking in defense of his son Flavio Bolsonaro this Thursday in Dallas, Texas, President Jair Bolsonaro attacked the press and suggested that a reporter should return to a “good college” and practice “proper journalism”.
The reporter had quesioned the president on the profile of Brazilian universities which he had referred to as done by leading experts in academic research in Brazil.
At first, Bolsonaro dismissed criticism from academics, who have complained about the impact of cuts in education budgets on universities. The budget block was the subject of protests thoughout Brazil on Wednesday.
According to the president, “among the 250 best universities in the world, none are Brazilian”. This, he said, defeats the argument that cutbacks in funding affect research.
Bolsonaro also said that “we do have research, at Mackenzie, at IME, at ITA, in a few universities.”
Based on the statement, the reporter asked why the president was quoting a private university (Mackenzie), as an example of an institution conducting research. Bolsonaro said that he had not cited private institutions.
Another reporter questioned whether, with budget cuts, it would not become even more challenging to see Brazilian universities among the best in the world.
The President made it clear that it was not a cut, but a “contingency” and attacked the reporter from Folha de S.Paulo.
“Was this from the Folha? First, you, from Folha de S.Paulo, you need to go back to college and learn good journalism. That’s what Folha has to do and not hire just about anybody to be a journalist, to keep sowing discord and asking nonsense and publishing disgusting things. That’s what you at Folha have to do,” said the president, while sympathizers applauded.
He then asked if the reporter would like to continue debating with him. Hearing that she only wanted to know about the budget cuts, Bolsonaro closed the interview: “All areas are essential. Science and technology are as important as education. If not, when our commodities run out, what are we going to live on? We’re not herbivores.”
Earlier, however, Bolsonaro had criticized the Globo Group. When questioned on how he views investigations into his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro (PSL-RJ), the president said that the media giant is trying to overthrow him.
“Globo has known about my son’s breach of confidentiality since last year. Ask Globo if this isn’t a little game between Rio de Janeiro’s Prosecutor General and Globo,” said the president.
On Twitter, the president published an excerpt in which he criticizes Folha’s reporter. He posted: “Here in the United States, a reporter from Folha was unaware of the difference between a cut and a contingency. We explained. Watch.”