German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has attracted sharp criticism from Brazilian officials after making disparaging remarks about Belem, a Brazilian city that hosted the UN Climate Summit. The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, labeled Merz a ‘Nazi’ in a now-deleted X post, responding to Merz’s comments at a trade conference in Berlin. The German chancellor had praised Germany as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, while criticizing Belem’s climate-related issues.
The controversy escalated after Paes’ initial post, which was later deleted, expressing frustration over the chancellor’s remarks. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also commented on the situation, suggesting Merz’s failure to appreciate Belem’s attractions was his own fault. Helder Barbalh, the governor of Para state where Belem is located, further criticized Merz’s hypocrisy by pointing out the irony of nations that contributed to climate change finding the Amazon’s heat unusual.
Despite the backlash, Merz has defended his comments, stating that Germany’s beauty and his own opinion were valid. However, environmental groups like the Green Party have condemned the chancellor’s image during his trip, calling it ‘disastrous.’ The incident highlights the tension between international diplomacy and climate politics, with Brazil and Germany at the center of a growing diplomatic dispute.