Lula asks minister to read his speech at COP31 due to hoarseness

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, suffering from hoarseness, asked Environment Minister João Paulo Capobianco to read his second speech at the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, on Wednesday. Lula had already spoken at the opening session of the UN Climate Summit earlier that day. His voice worsened during the re-election campaign's second round due to increased public appearances, and he had rested days before the trip to recover. Handing the microphone to Capobianco, Lula joked about his condition and requested the minister represent him "effusively," saying, "You don't need to speak hoarse, but speak in a tone of someone doing a lot for environmental preservation."