Politics · Brazil · 1 hr ago
Uruguay’s foreign minister says leaving Mercosur would be difficult for Brazil
Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin warned Flávio Bolsonaro that leaving Mercosur would be difficult during Brazil’s campaign for an October 25 runoff.
Bolsonaro, a presidential candidate, has criticised the South American trade bloc and said he wants to free Brazil from its constraints.
Mercosur has many linked business agreements and exit mechanisms, Lubetkin said, making a quick departure difficult.
He warned that leaving could cause major losses for Brazil’s economy.
Bolsonaro’s campaign programme filed with Brazil’s electoral court does not mention Mercosur.
Uruguay says it will work with whoever wins Brazil’s election, which Lubetkin said should be clean, transparent, democratic and calm.
Lubetkin also said Uruguay will not restore diplomatic relations with Venezuela while Delcy Rodríguez governs, and would wait for an independent court to confirm the winner of a democratic election.
Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin said leaving Mercosur would be difficult for Brazil and could cause major economic losses.
He was responding to Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign criticism of the bloc.
Lubetkin cited interrelated business agreements and mechanisms that make a quick exit difficult.
He said Uruguay would work with whoever wins Brazil’s October 25 runoff.
Bolsonaro’s registered government programme does not mention Mercosur.
- Who
- Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin and Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro.
- What
- Lubetkin said leaving Mercosur would be difficult and could cause major losses for Brazil’s economy.
- When
- October 13, 2026; Bolsonaro’s runoff was scheduled for October 25.
- Where
- The comments concerned Brazil and Mercosur; Lubetkin made them in an interview with Folha de S.Paulo.
- Why
- Lubetkin cited interrelated business agreements and mechanisms that prevent a quick exit.
Flávio Bolsonaro
Mario Lubetkin
Mercosur
Flávio Bolsonaro
Bolsonaro has spoken of freeing Brazil from the bloc’s constraints on negotiating its own trade agreements.
Mario Lubetkin
Lubetkin said leaving would be difficult because of interrelated agreements and could cause major economic losses.
Uruguay began holding Mercosur’s pro tempore presidency.
Lubetkin warned that leaving Mercosur would be difficult for Brazil.
Brazil’s runoff election was scheduled to take place.
- Speaker
- Mario Lubetkin, Uruguay’s foreign minister
- Brazilian candidate
- Flávio Bolsonaro
- Runoff date
- October 25, 2026
- Uruguay’s Mercosur presidency
- Began July 1
- Bolsonaro’s registered programme
- Does not mention Mercosur
What people are saying
It is not easy to leave Mercosur. There are too many interrelated agreements in the business sphere, and that would cause major losses for the Brazilian economy.
I hope that, if that gentleman ends up presiding over Brazil, when he starts governing he will realise that many statements made during the election campaign are impracticable once in government.
freeing Brazil from the shackles of Mercosur
Sources
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