- Title: Embalmed heart of Portuguese king received with honors in Brasilia
- Date: 23rd August 2022
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZIL'S PRESIDENT, JAIR BOLSONARO, SAYING: "Two countries, united by history, linked by a heart. 200 years of independence. Ahead, an eternity in freedom. God, homeland, family. Long live Portugal, long live Brazil." HEART ON TABLE AND CHILDREN DURING CEREMONY VARIOUS OF BOLSONARO, HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH THE HEART BOLSONARO WAVING PEOPLE BOLSONARO LEAVING EVENT
- Embargoed: 7th September 2022 00:25
- Keywords: Brazil Dom Pedro I President Jair Bolsonaro
- Location: BRASILIA, BRAZIL
- City: BRASILIA, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002024123082022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The embalmed heart of the Portuguese monarch who declared the independence of Brazil from Portugal 200 years ago was received with the military honors of a head of state in Brasilia on Tuesday (August 23) at the start of the bicentenary celebrations.
The heart kept in formaldehyde in a glass jar inside a gold urn arrived at the presidential palace in an open Rolls Royce flanked by a mounted color guard and received by President Jair Bolsonaro with a gun salute. Air Force planes flew past.
Dom Pedro I's heart had been kept in a church in the Portuguese city of Porto since his death in Portugal in 1834 and loaned for three weeks to Brazil, where it will be put on display as part of independence anniversary celebrations.
Pedro declared Brazilian independence in 1822 and was crowned "emperor" of Brazil after his father King Joao VI returned to Portugal following the restoration of European monarchies after the defeat of Napoleon.
Though Pedro returned to Portugal nine years later, his declaration of independence on September 7, 1822 is acclaimed by Brazilian nationalists as the birth of their country.
"Two countries, united by history, linked by a heart. 200 years of independence. Ahead, an eternity in freedom. God, homeland, family!" Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said in a brief speech.
But critics of Bolsonaro, who is seeking re-election in October, said he is using the relic to boost his political movement around Independence Day when he plans to hold election rallies.
(Production: Isadora Machado, Leonardo Benassatto, Leandra Camera, Lais Morais, Liamar Ramos) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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