Congresswoman Marina Silva receives France’s highest honor

Marina Silva, a federal congresswoman and former minister of the environment and climate change, received on Wednesday (Jul. 1) the insignia of Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor at the French Embassy in Brasília. The award is France’s highest distinction.

France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, attended the ceremony.

According to the embassy, the honor recognizes Silva’s more than three decades of work defending the environment, indigenous peoples, and traditional communities, as well as addressing climate change.

The federal representative stated that she accepted the award as recognition of the work carried out by Brazil, which, under President Lula’s administrations, rebuilt and strengthened its environmental and climate policy.

“The results achieved during this period belong to the Brazilian people and to state institutions,” she noted.

Legion of Honor

The order was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to honor women and men who, through courage, talent, dedication, or exceptional achievements, have rendered important services to France.

Over its more than 200-year history, the Legion of Honor has been bestowed on figures such as Louis Pasteur and Marie Curie.

Among the Brazilians awarded the Legion of Honor are former Presidents Juscelino Kubitschek, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as well as singer-songwriter Gilberto Gil, architect Oscar Niemeyer, and writer Paulo Coelho.