Rio Mayor Slams German Chancellor Merz as ‘Hitler’s Son,’ ‘Nazi’ and ‘Bastard’
Tensions have erupted between Brazil and Germany after Rio de Janeiro’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, launched a blistering public attack on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by Steffen Prößdorf, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Friedrich Merz
Paes, outraged by Merz’s disparaging comments about the Brazilian city Belém, initially called him on X “Hitler’s son,” a “bastard” and a “Nazi.” According to Bild, he later deleted the post and replaced it with a more conciliatory message.
Paes explained that his harsh words were a moment of emotional venting.
“That was my way of letting off steam today,” he wrote, urging the German Foreign Ministry to calm down. He ended by reaffirming the importance of Brazilian-German friendship: “Long live the friendship between Brazil and Germany,” he added.
The political firestorm stems from remarks Merz made during a trade conference shortly after attending the COP30 climate summit in Belém. He reportedly said that none of the journalists traveling with him had expressed a desire to stay in Brazil — and implied they were eager to return to Germany. In his original phrasing:
“They were all glad … that we finally left that place … and flew back home on Saturday night.”
Merz’s comments drew immediate backlash not only from Paes, but from the highest levels of Brazil’s government. President Lula da Silva himself pushed back, suggesting Merz should have mingled with locals in Belém, danced or tried regional cuisine to understand the genuine warmth and generous spirit of the people. For Lula, Merz’s remarks revealed tone-deafness and a lack of respect for Brazil’s cultural and social richness.
This scandal underlines deeper diplomatic tensions. Many Brazilians view Merz’s comment as a microcosm of a broader European arrogance, especially toward nations in the Global South. As the fallout continues, the deleted post, the political heat in Brazil, and international reactions raise questions about how Berlin and Brasília will repair the damage — and whether a gesture of reconciliation can restore trust.
