Council members were stunned when a councillor joined an online meeting while he appeared to be on the loo.
The officials had joined the meeting to discuss a bill to designate a local viewpoint as a protected heritage site.
Five participants can be seen on the screen, among them councillor Cesar Maia.
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The 78-year-old former mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, appears to be sitting on the toilet while wearing a polo shirt.
It looks like he has no trousers on or them pulled down while seated.
As another participant speaks, he quickly tilts his laptop so that only his top half is visible.
Councillor Pablo Mello, who is hosting the session from the Rio Council Chamber, says: “Councilman Cesar Maia, please turn off your camera.”
“Certainly,” replies Maia.
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The stunned host then moves his microphone away as he tries his best not to burst out laughing.
Maia’s team later stated: “The councilman was present at the plenary session, as he always is, and he experienced a sudden indisposition but remained in the session.
“The sudden discomfort affected his awareness of the camera being on, and he focused solely on his work.”
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Cesar Maia is an economist and was the mayor of the “Marvellous City” for a record 12 years.
He has also served as a federal deputy in Brazil’s lower house, as reported on What’s The Jam.
He currently belongs to the liberal, centrist Brazilian Social Democracy Party and is the father of the former Chamber of Deputies president Rodrigo Maia.
Cesar Maia’s gaffe yesterday (5 Jun) was one of the most talked-about topics on X in Brazil.
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