Brazil's Bolsonaro praises late Paraguay dictator Stroessner

Published February 26, 2019

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has praised late Paraguayan dictator Gen. Alfredo Stroessner during a ceremony at the Itaipu hydroelectric dam on the countries' shared border.

Bolsonaro, a far-right ex-army captain, is known for praising Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship and on Tuesday he also lauded Paraguay's longtime strongman for his role in building the Itaipu dam, one of the biggest in the world.

"All of this was possible because a man of vision, a statesman who knew perfectly well that his country Paraguay would need to grow. So here is my tribute to honor Gen. Alfredo Stroessner," said Bolsonaro, speaking on the Paraguayan side of the dam.

At Bolsonaro's side was Paraguayan President Mario Abdo, whose father served as Stroessner's private secretary for 25 years. Stroessner ruled from 1954 to 1989.

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