The IBGE, under the presidency of Marcio Pochmann, released an inverted world map showing the Southern Hemisphere at the top, with Brazil centrally positioned. This follows a previous map with Brazil at the center, which also generated significant discussion.
Pochmann justified the map's design as a way to highlight Brazil's global leadership role. While some see it as a positive initiative, others view it as politically motivated and a distraction from the IBGE's core function of providing objective data. Critics argue that this decision compromises the IBGE's credibility.
The IBGE's actions follow internal strife resulting from Pochmann's management decisions, including the creation and suspension of a private foundation.
The IBGE is selling the inverted world map online and plans to sell physical copies at its Rio de Janeiro location, despite criticism of turning the map into a political product.
Gustavo Mota de Sousa, a cartography professor at UFRRJ, confirmed that multiple world map representations are valid, though he acknowledged the map's primary aim to highlight Brazil.
A section of Assibge, the IBGE workers' union, issued a statement of repudiation, emphasizing that the IBGE should focus on objective information rather than symbolic or political material.