Canadian YouTuber Stefan Molyneux published on his social networks, on the last day 2.09.2019, an interview with the Brazilian Minister of Environment, Ricardo Salles. The video lasts 24 minutes. In them, both speak of the recent environmental crisis involving the burning of the Amazon rainforest.
Molyneux, however, is known for being a supporter of white supremacist ideas as well as free liberalism of state regulation.
The interview is very revealing, as it indicates that Salles, who has decided to tackle countries like Germany and Norway, which were helping to protect the Amazon through the money they sent to the Amazon Fund, is willing to use part of his time to give an interview for an obscure social media figure rather than negotiating with the nations mentioned.
The interview points to the amateurism of the current administration, which, amid an unprecedented environmental crisis, makes accusations against possible international partners and approaches controversial figures, to say the least, and of no political importance like Stefan Molyneux.
Prior to being appointed to the post of the environment minister, Salles, like Molyneux, was a minor and controversial figure in Brazilian politics. Prior to being minister, Ricardo Salles was a federal deputy candidate for the ultra-liberal Partido Novo. During the campaign, Salles used social networks to spread messages that incited violence.
Salles's candidacy number was 30-06 in allusion to a type of ammunition, which he in his messages promised to use to combat the "boar plague" and "against the left and the MST", Landless Workers' Movement.
The Partido Novo itself disapproved of Salles's publications during the campaign. In recent weeks, the Partido Novo has tried to explain that Salles, who remains a member of the Partido Novo, did not represent the party in the federal government. Paradoxically, the Partido Novo supports the government in House votes, has a cabinet minister, but publicly says it has no connection with Jair Bolsonaro.
These are not the only problems represented by Salles, in December 2018, he was convicted of administrative misconduct and had his political rights suspended for three years. The sentence, handed down by Judge Fausto José Martins Seabra, Salles allegedly committed, when he was secretary of the environment of the government of São Paulo, various irregularities and disarray that could harm the environment.
