Brasilia (AFP)

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro once again violently attacked journalists, telling them to go "fuck themselves at their mother's house", after the publication of information according to which his government had spent 15 million reais (2.7 million dollars) for purchases of condensed milk in 2020.

“When I see the press attacking me, saying I bought 2.5 million cans of condensed milk. Fuck you at your mother's house. That fucking press. These cans are for you, the press, to put them in the ass, "said the Brazilian president during a private lunch in a restaurant in Brasilia, attended by relatives and dozens of artists who support his government.

According to a video of the lunch, broadcast on social networks and shared by an adviser to the president on the Telegram network, the words of the far-right president were greeted by laughter and applause from the guests, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ernesto Araujo and that of tourism, Gilson Machado Neto.

The President's Communication Secretary confirmed to AFP that Mr. Bolsonaro attended the lunch but that it was a "private engagement".

According to the Metrópoles website, 1.8 billion reais ($ 330 million) was spent on catering purchases for various federal entities in 2020.

Of this total, 15 million reais are spent on the purchase of condensed milk.

The Ministry of Defense notably bought it for 14 million reais.

Even though the president was not the originator of the purchases, social media was quickly inundated with memes and criticism, attributing the purchase directly to President Bolsonaro who repeatedly bragged about eating bread with it. condensed milk for breakfast, thus proving that he is a "simple man".

In a statement, the Ministry of Defense recalled that it was responsible for providing a "balanced" diet to more than 370,000 members of the armed forces and that "condensed milk constitutes this type of food because of its energy potential" and because it "can possibly be used as a substitute for fresh milk".

Jair Bolsonaro has attacked the press on numerous occasions, accusing them of creating "stories" to harm them.

The NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) recorded 580 attacks against the press by the Head of State and his entourage in 2020.

© 2021 AFP