[AlbertC]

Coronavirus: Brazil's Bolsonaro in denial and out on a limb

By Katy Watson
BBC South America correspondent

29 March 2020

As the world tries desperately to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, Brazil's president is doing his best to downplay it.

Jair Bolsonaro has largely struggled to take it seriously. Going against his own health ministry's advice earlier in March, and while awaiting the results of a second coronavirus test, he left self-isolation to join rallies against Congress.

He shook hands with supporters in Brasilia and sent a message to millions that this was not something to worry about.

In a televised address last week, he repeated a now well-worn phrase. "It's just a little flu or the sniffles," he said, blaming the media once again for the hysteria and panic over Covid-19.

A few days later, he clearly demonstrated his prioritisation of the economy over isolation measures favoured by the rest of the world.

Coronavirus: Brazil's Bolsonaro in denial and out on a limb

The president is isolating himself from other world leaders as he downplays the coronavirus pandemic.

www.bbc.com

 

[AlbertC]

Bolsonaro ignored by state governors amid anger at handling of Covid-19 crisis

Even former allies are refusing to obey the Brazilian president’s calls for people to go back to work

Dom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro
Wed 1 Apr 2020 11.00 BST

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro is facing a growing backlash over his handling of the coronavirus crisis, with the state governors responsible for more than 200 million of the country’s 210 million people refusing to follow his commands over the pandemic.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down the dangers of Covid-19 and last week urged Brazilians to get back to work – in defiance of advice from the World Health Organization and his own health ministry.

But his exhortations have been largely ignored by politicians and the general public.

Just three of Brazil’s 27 states, home to 5.7 million people, have relaxed social isolation measures as coronavirus cases continue to rise – Brazil has 5,717 confirmed cases and 201 deaths. A study showed almost 60% of Brazilians are staying at home.

Bolsonaro ignored by state governors amid anger at handling of Covid-19 crisis

Even former allies are refusing to obey the Brazilian president’s calls for people to go back to work

www.theguardian.com

 

[Videodrome]

Brazil's Bolsonaro isolated, weakened by coronavirus denial

At a tense cabinet meeting on Saturday in the Brazilian president's official residence, Jair Bolsonaro found himself isolated. The far-right leader convened the emergency meeting in Brasilia's modernist Alvorada Palace to resolve a dispute with Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who...

ca.yahoo.com

Even the military has turned on him.

 

[Johnny Au]

Brazil's Bolsonaro isolated, weakened by coronavirus denial

At a tense cabinet meeting on Saturday in the Brazilian president's official residence, Jair Bolsonaro found himself isolated. The far-right leader convened the emergency meeting in Brasilia's modernist Alvorada Palace to resolve a dispute with Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who...

ca.yahoo.com

Even the military has turned on him.

Brazil could end up run by a military junta once the pandemic is over (and it won't be the first time Brazil is run by a military junta).

 

[Richard White]

Brazil could end up run by a military junta once the pandemic is over (and it won't be the first time Brazil is run by a military junta).

I have a friend in Brazil who hated Rousseff and Temer and only tolerates Bolsonaro because he is the best of the worst.

Brazil will never have a stable government even with a Miltary Junta though it would open eyes to a grim reality.

 

[Northern Light]

The failings of government(s), in the current circumstance, be they in Brazil, the U.S. or elsewhere..........are not forgivable.

They were preventable.

They are functions of education, of the electoral system, of corruption, and more.

But nothing that isn't and wasn't correctable.

At some point the population of any and every nation has to deal the fact they get the government they elect/passively accept.

Mediocrity or worse............should not be tolerated by anyone, anywhere, ever.

I'm not suggesting perpetual revolution or anarchy; but I am suggesting that no challenge is truly new; and the solutions have always required intelligent, honest, transparent government that inspired confidence
in their people and was capable of leading.

People should accept nothing less.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

I have a friend in Brazil who hated Rousseff and Temer and only tolerates Bolsonaro because he is the best of the worst.

Brazil will never have a stable government even with a Miltary Junta though it would open eyes to a grim reality.

People in southern and western Brazil detested the corrupt socialist regimes of Lula and Rousseff, while Temer inherited that unpopularity and had his own problems.

Bolsonaro ran in an environment where he was the main opposition to the Workers Party which had dominated politics for 16 years, meanwhile, the Workers Party's vice presidential candidate in 2018 was a literal communist.

Brazilians really had the worst of options before them.

 

[Richard White]

People in southern and western Brazil detested the corrupt socialist regimes of Lula and Rousseff, while Temer inherited that unpopularity and had his own problems.

Bolsonaro ran in an environment where he was the main opposition to the Workers Party which had dominated politics for 16 years, meanwhile, the Workers Party's vice presidential candidate in 2018 was a literal communist.

Brazilians really had the worst of options before them.

My friend in Niteroi said exactly that. She hates Bolsonaro but he was better than the alternative. She may not like him but at least he is not yet under investigation for something or being ousted by the military.

 

[Videodrome]

The good news is that state governors are blowing off his denial nonsense and putting their own measures in place.

 

[AlbertC]

Bolsonaro dragging Brazil towards coronavirus calamity, experts fear

Concerns grow that by downplaying threat, Brazil’s president risks public health crisis

Tom Phillips and Dom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro
Sun 12 Apr 2020 16.24 BST

Medical experts have said they fear that Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, could be hastening the country’s march towards a devastating public health crisis like those to have hit northern Italy and New York by undermining social distancing measures.

Bolsonaro is one of just four world leaders still downplaying the threat of coronavirus to public health, alongside the authoritarian presidents of Nicaragua, Belarus and Turkmenistan.

Over Easter, Brazil’s far-right leader repeatedly sniffed at his own health ministry’s distancing recommendations by going out for doughnuts, glad-handing fans and proclaiming: “No one will hinder my right to come and go.” During one outing, Bolsonaro was filmed wiping his nose with his wrist before shaking an elderly lady’s hand.

Specialists in public health and infectious diseases believe such behaviour is eroding the only measures standing between Brazil – which has suffered more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths – and a healthcare calamity.

Bolsonaro dragging Brazil towards coronavirus calamity, experts fear

Concerns grow that by downplaying threat, Brazil’s president risks public health crisis

www.theguardian.com

 

[lenaitch]

What is it with Latin American nations who can't seem to sustain democratic governance.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

What is it with Latin American nations who can't seem to sustain democratic governance.

The United States would have been the same if not for their checks and balances and obsession with their constitution.

I think it is the downfall of presidential systems. I have grown to appreciate our constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system more and more by the day.

 

[Johnny Au]

The United States would have been the same if not for their checks and balances and obsession with their constitution.

I think it is the downfall of presidential systems. I have grown to appreciate our constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system more and more by the day.

It is time that republics using the presidential system become parliamentary republics.

 

[AlbertC]

Bolsonaro fires popular health minister after dispute over coronavirus response

• Luiz Henrique Mandetta defended physical distancing
• Far-right president has downplayed impact of coronavirus

Dom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro
Published on Thu 16 Apr 2020 23.27 BST

Bolsonaro fires popular health minister after dispute over coronavirus response

Luiz Mandetta defended physical distancing while Bolsonaro has downplayed impact of coronavirus and called for measures to be relaxed

www.theguardian.com

 

[Richard White]

Bolsonaro fires popular health minister after dispute over coronavirus response

• Luiz Henrique Mandetta defended physical distancing
• Far-right president has downplayed impact of coronavirus

Dom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro
Published on Thu 16 Apr 2020 23.27 BST

Bolsonaro fires popular health minister after dispute over coronavirus response

Luiz Mandetta defended physical distancing while Bolsonaro has downplayed impact of coronavirus and called for measures to be relaxed

www.theguardian.com

Wasn't the military supporting the health minister at one point?