Why Brazil Always Speaks First at the UN General Assembly

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will open the general debate of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 22, at 9 a.m. local time, a tradition held by Brazil since 1955. Brazil has spoken first at the event for decades, except in 1983 and 1984 when the U.S. and Brazil swapped positions. The U.S. speaks second, followed by other member nations, though no official UN document or rule mandates this order. The most widely cited explanation comes from former UN protocol chief Desmond Parker, who said Brazil earned the right by volunteering to speak first when no other country would. Other theories suggest it was compensation for Brazil's exclusion from the Security Council.