In his second week in office, far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has pulled the country out of a U. N. migration pact, fulfilling a pledge he made
In his second week in office, far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has pulled the country out of a U. N. migration pact, fulfilling a pledge he made before taking office.
Brazilian diplomats told local media on Tuesday that the country officially left the agreement. A diplomat also told Reuters that Brazil has exited the pact.
Bolsonaro appeared to confirm the withdrawal on Wednesday, tweeting, “No to the compact on migration.”
“Defense of national sovereignty was one of our campaign’s banners and it will be a priority of our government,” he wrote. “The Brazilians and immigrants who live here will be safer under rules that we ourselves make, without external pressure.”
Brazil’s departure from the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration marks the latest rejection of the non-binding agreement, which has drawn protest across the world, especially from far-right politicians in Europe. Nearly 30 countries, including the United States, refused to sign the pact in December.
Brazil was among the majority of countries that signed onto the compact, under the country’s previous administration.
Bolsonaro’s decision to leave the agreement follows guarantees the president-elect and his foreign minister made last month, after a polarizing election and runoff.
