Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro declared three days of national mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, who died after 70 years on the throne.
The far-right president, who is running for reelection next month, stated in an official gazette that the gesture was made “in condolence for her majesty the queen’s death.”
Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter that Elizabeth II was “a queen not just to Britons, but to all of us.”
– É com grande pesar e comoção que o Brasil recebe a notícia do falecimento de Sua Majestade a Rainha Elizabeth II, uma mulher extraordinária e singular, cujo exemplo de liderança, de humildade e de amor à pátria seguirá inspirando a nós e ao mundo inteiro até o fim dos tempos.
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) September 8, 2022
“She was an extraordinary and singular woman whose example of leadership, humility and love of country will continue to inspire us and the world forever,” he added.
READ ALSO: Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96
– Nesta data triste para o mundo, decretamos três dias de luto oficial e convidamos todo o povo brasileiro a prestar homenagens à Rainha Elizabeth II.
– DEUS SALVE A RAINHA! pic.twitter.com/4NB5GPJ9fy
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) September 8, 2022
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) September 8, 2022
Brazil, a former Portuguese colony, has few ties to the United Kingdom.
Some questioned whether the president had ulterior motives for lowering the flag to half-staff at the presidential palace in Brasilia.
“I see Bolsonaro’s gesture as more related to his voters’ preference for conservative themes, tradition, and monarchy,” Rio de Janeiro State University political scientist Mauricio Santoro said.
Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who currently leads Bolsonaro in polls ahead of Brazil’s October 2 elections, also expressed his condolences on Twitter.
“She left her mark on an entire era,” the leftist leader wrote alongside a photo of himself greeting Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace during his presidential visit to London in 2009.
The great loss
The royal family announced that Britain’s longest serving ruler and monarch, Queen Elizabeth II aged 96 died on Thursday. Her health was fragile for a while and she withdrew from some duties as well as some celebrations.
Queen Elizabeth’s successor
The death of the Queen has left the throne empty, her son Charles III is expected to be crowned as the King of Britain.
The details of the coronation is yet to be known as the royal family has not announced the preparations of King Charles’ ascension to the throne.
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