Concerned About Being Booed Again, Temer Is Against Participating in the Olympic Closing Ceremony
Concerned about having to face being booed again, interim President Michel Temer has indicated that he prefers to not participate in the Olympic closing ceremony, set to take place on the 21st of August in the Maracanã stadium.
The concern is that right before the final phase of the impeachment process in the Federal Senate, any public manifestation against the PMDB leader could have an unnecessary negative effect on the interim President's image.
Surrounding the PMDB leader, there are many aides who defend his participation in the worldwide event while at the same time there are others who swear that he should dedicate himself to the voting process in the Federal Senate.
The interim President's press attaché said that there is no official confirmation regarding travel plans for Rio de Janeiro for the event, but denied that he is worried about being booed.
According to the attaché, the PMDB leader will fulfill his obligations as head of the government and will be present wherever his presence is necessary.
Those defending the trip to Rio de Janeiro say that his participation is essential to initiate diplomatic relations with the new Japanese Government, since it is expected that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be participating, although his presence has yet to be confirmed.
A bilateral encounter between Temer and Abe has been in the works with the objective of paving the way for a visit from the interim President to the oriental country at the end of the year.
At the opening ceremonies to the worldwide competition last Friday (the 5th), Temer tried without success, to avoid being booed and heckled by spectators.
Translated by LLOYD HARDER