CPAC, largest U.S. conservative event, confirms Bolsonaro’s attendance

Former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) is confirmed to attend the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), held March 1-4 in Washington, DC.

He had been invited on Thursday (Feb. 16).

Bolsonaro is expected to speak and meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is also confirmed at the event.

On Friday (Feb. 17), CPAC published two public convocation posts with images of the former Brazilian president on its Twitter profile.

“Many call him the ‘Donald Trump’ of South America. Here, at CPAC, we call him a friend. Join Bolsonaro March 1-4 in Washington,” it reported. ”

[Former] President Jair Bolsonaro says political correctness is the stuff of left-wing radicals.

He’s right. Let’s make that a thing of the past too. Join us,” the conference communicated in another convocation post.

On Thursday (Feb. 16), American Conservative Union President Michael Schlapp confirmed Bolsonaro’s attendance and that he has agreed to speak at CPAC.

“It is an honor to welcome former President Bolsonaro to CPAC, and our attendees will get his perspective on what is happening in the fight for freedom here and in Brazil,” he told the Washington Examiner website.

In addition to Bolsonaro and Trump, the conservative conference will feature

• former US Ambassador to the UN and Republican pre-candidate for president Nikky Haley;
• Senators Marsha Blackburn, Ted Cruz, Rick Scott, Mike Braun, and Eric Schmitt; ]
• Ben Carson, former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
• James Comer, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, among others.

WHAT IS CPAC AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT

Created in 1973 by the groups American Conservative Union (ACU) and Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), CPAC brings together, every year, some of the exponents of the American conservative right.

In the United States, the event has hosted former president Donald Trump and British president Nigel Farage, who helped articulate what resulted in the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.

The event has already been held in Brazil in three editions.

The last one, last year, brought together politicians, journalists, influencers, and more than a thousand Bolsonaro supporters in Campinas (SP).

In 2022, the conference was led by Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL).

The third edition was also attended by Jason Miller, former U.S. presidential adviser during Trump’s term; the founder of the Chilean Republican Party, José Antônio Kast; and Argentine congressman Javier Milei.

CPAC seeks to promote articulation among conservatives and strengthen conservatism in the US and worldwide.

In Brazil, events and associations of people who call themselves conservative in customs or liberal in economics are increasingly common.

Between 2019 and July 2022, for example, there were at least 43 conservative congresses in 17 states in Brazil, a survey by Agência Pública reported.