Brazilian minister fired for using excerpts of speech by Joseph Goebbels

Brazil’s Jewish community has welcomed the government’s decision to sack the culture minister after he paraphrased Nazi propaganda mastermind Joseph Goebbels in a speech announcing national arts awards.

Roberto Alvim used several excerpts from a Goebbels speech in his own while playing music by Richard Wagner – Hitler’s favourite composer – in the background.

Brazilian Congress President Davi Alcolumbre, who is Jewish, immediately called for Alvim to be fired.

Brazil’s right-wing nationalist President Jair Bolsonaro later did so, saying Alvim’s comments were “unfortunate” and that he had removed him because the government “rejects genocidal ideology”.

The Brazilian Israelite Confederation said: “Emulating Goebbels’ vision is a scary sign of his cultural vision, which must be combated and contained.”