Advertisement

Brazil's president boycotts France's iconic bic biro

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
Brazil's president boycotts France's iconic bic biro
The Bic logo at the company's headquarters in Clichy outside Paris. Photo: Jacques Demarthon/AFP

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday he would stop using 'French' Bic biros to sign official documents in protest at criticism from French President Emmanuel Macron.

Advertisement

"A pen (of the Brazilian brand) Compactor and no more Bic, will work," Bolsonaro said on Friday, confirming remarks he made during a live broadcast on Facebook a day earlier. Bolsonaro said on Thursday he would stop using Bic "because it is French."
 
When asked by AFP if Bolsonaro was serious or joking, Brazil's presidential office declined to comment. 
 
Most of the Bic ballpoint pens sold in Brazil are made in the French company's factory in the Brazilian city of Manaus in the Amazon, a Bic spokesperson told AFP.  
   
Bolsonaro has previously cited Bic pens, which are cheap and commonly used in Brazil, as a sign of austerity after the expenses of his predecessors. Bic said it felt "flattered" to be recognized as a "democratic brand," but 
would not comment on the president's decision.
   
Bolsonaro has repeatedly clashed with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in recent days. 
   
On the eve of the G7 summit last week, Macron declared the forest fires, which are also affecting Bolivia, an "international crisis" and put them on the agenda of the gathering of the rich democracies.
   
Macron also accused Bolsonaro of lying to him about Brazil's climate change stance.
   
Bolsonaro in turn said Macron had a "colonialist mentality" and now refuses to speak to him unless the French president retracts remarks relating to Brazil's sovereignty over the Amazon. 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also