'Hot-blooded' Lula won't give up on Mercosur trade deal with Europe

Germany and Brazil are still pushing for a swift approval of the potentially incredibly lucrative free trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur group of South American nations.

Hopes had been that the EU and the Mercosur bloc, which is made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, would agree on the terms of the deal this week. However, the new Argentinian government must review and approve the outstanding issues. It is doubtful that it will be done as quickly as this week.

Speaking to the media in Berlin, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was bullish about getting the deal done.

"After 23 years, it would be unreasonable to simply give up on the topic now," he said. "I am a very hot-blooded person. I am Brazilian, and Brazilians never give up."

Lula da Silva strongly suggested that France and Argentina required coaxing into an agreement on the free trade deal. He encouraged German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who he called his "friend" during the press conference, to do his part, while the Brazilian President said he would continue to try to convince those who have not already got on board: "I go to meetings to convince the others. However, it is clear that I cannot force people to do this."

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The ebullient Brazilian dominated the time speaking to reporters at the press conference, with Chancellor Scholz seemingly happy to allow his visitor to field most of the questions. Regarding the EU-Mercosur trade deal, the German leader said, "I am convinced that a majority will be found for an agreement," and "Germany supports the intention to conclude such an agreement."

This was the first time Germany and Brazil had met at this governmental level in eight years, with Lula da Silva being joined in Berlin by his cabinet.

The two leaders signed an agreement that will see the German and Brazilian governments meet biannually. There was also a commitment to end deforestation in Brazil by 2030.

In 2024, Brazil assumes the G20 presidency, and Lula said that he would make the fight against "inequality, poverty, hunger and climate change" the main targets of the Brazilian presidency. He told the gathered press that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be invited to the G20 summit, set to be held in Brazil next November. "Putin is certainly invited by the Brazilian president."

With regard to the arrest warrant for the Russian President by the International Criminal Court, of which Brazil is a signatory, the Brazilian leader said: "Will he be arrested when he arrives? Maybe, maybe not... I can't say what will happen. That will be decided by the courts."

If Scholz thought that he might get a moment's peace from the current financial turmoil in his country at this press conference, he was mistaken. However, he gave short shrift to the journalist who asked about the current budget crisis in Germany. 

"We are in a situation where the budget has to be discussed at the end of the year. We will also tell you when we are finished," was Scholz's response – very much the 'don't call us, we'll call you' of press conference answers.

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