Economy Minister Paulo Guedes made a gaffe this Tuesday (15th) when he said that Brazil is ready for a "Second World War," a conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945. Moments later, he sought out reporters to explain and took the opportunity to also correct a statement made last week about iPhones in Brazil. In an event at the Planalto Palace aimed at agribusiness, Guedes said that Brazil has a zero fiscal deficit and, therefore, "ready for another fight." "If the second world war comes, we are ready again. We will expand again, because we have zero deficit."
After the ceremony, he explained himself to reporters, stating that he used the term figuratively. "I'm not talking about the second world war. There was a war, which was this pandemic, a world health war. Now there's a second one, Ukraine, Russia... This has increased the price of fuel, fertilizers, this affects us," said the minister. "I meant: if there is this oil war, this grain war, we will be prepared to react."
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon