ZCZC
BFF-07
HEALTH-VIRUS-BRAZIL-POLITICS
Bolsonaro triggers backlash for downplaying coronavirus
BRASILIA, March 26, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
drew blistering criticism from the medical community and opponents Wednesday
for downplaying the coronavirus pandemic, but renewed his attacks on
containment measures to slow its spread.
The far-right leader has repeatedly lashed out at restrictive measures to
fight the virus, which he has called a “little flu” that caused an
“overblown” reaction.
He triggered new outrage among critics with a national address Tuesday
night condemning “scorched-earth” containment measures by local authorities,
such as closing businesses and confining people in Sao Paulo and Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil’s biggest cities.
He said such measures risked wrecking the Brazilian economy, Latin
America’s largest.
His stance, which flies in the face of World Health Organization
recommendations, drew a strongly worded letter of condemnation from a group
of eight medical professional associations.
They called Bolsonaro an “enemy of the people’s health” whose response to
the crisis was “incoherent and criminal.”
“He denies the body of scientific evidence guiding the fight against the
COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, disdaining the serious and dedicated work by a
national and global network of researchers and health technology
professionals,” it said.
Politicians of various stripes also attacked Bolsonaro, including center-
right Senate president Davi Alcolumbre, who said Brazil “needs a serious,
responsible leader who cares about the people’s lives and health.”
Undeterred, Bolsonaro doubled down.
“Companies aren’t producing anything. They can’t pay their employees… We
are facing chaos,” he told journalists outside the presidential residence in
Brasilia.
“We could end up with problems like people looting supermarkets… What do
we need to do? Get people back to work. Protect the elderly, protect people
with health problems, but that’s it.”
Bolsonaro, a former army captain who has been criticized for praising
Brazil’s brutal military dictatorship (1964-1985), also warned the fallout of
the coronavirus crisis could put democracy at risk.
“What if this derails the ‘democratic norm’ you all defend so staunchly?”
he asked, adding: “It wouldn’t come from me, don’t worry.”
He compared his approach to the pandemic to that of US President Donald
Trump, whom he admires.
“We’re following a similar line,” he said.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0938 hrs