Chancellor Friedrich Merz with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the World Climate Conference (archive image)
Source: dpa/Kay Nietfeld
Lula: Merz should go dancing
Merz should have gone to a bar in Belém, danced there and tried the local cuisine, “because he would have realized that Berlin doesn’t even offer ten percent of the quality that the state of Pará and the city of Belém offer,” Lula said.
Everyone knows that the city is poor, yet has “people so generous” “as almost no other place in the world.”
The latest climate protection index from the environmental organization Germanwatch is presented in Brazil. Germany slipped to 22nd place because of its climate policy.
11/18/2025 | 1:32 min
Merz: It’s great to be back in Germany
Upon returning from Brazil, CDU leader Merz made less positive comments about Belem at a trade congress. In the presence of German business representatives he said:
Last week I asked some of the journalists I was with in Brazil: Which of you would like to live here? Nobody raised their hand.
Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor
“They are all happy that we are back in Germany, especially from where we are (…),” he continued. In Germany you live “in one of the most beautiful countries in the world”.
In Belém, thousands of people took to the streets to take part in the “March for Climate”. Activists are demanding greater protection for indigenous groups and stronger action against global warming.
November 15, 2025 | 1:33 min
Criticism of Merz in Brazil
Several Brazilian media reported it. The news portal “Diário do Centro do Mundo” wrote about the “outrageous comparison”. The city’s mayor described Merz’s remarks as “unfortunate, arrogant and full of prejudice.”
Belem is one of the poorest cities in Brazil. However, a lot of money has flowed into the city for the climate conference, and many new things are being built and renovated in various districts. However, there are still dilapidated houses, damaged roads and dirty waterways in many places.
Source: dpa
