Covid-19 crisis shakes Brazil

Brasilia, June 5

One of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks, a paralyzed economy sending investors fleeing for the exit, and accusations that he has undermined Brazil’s young democracy have not loosened President Jair Bolsonaro’s grip on power.

As of Thursday, Brazil had nearly 615,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, second only to the United States. With 34,021 Covid-19 fatalities, its death toll overtook Italy’s.

Across the political spectrum this week, lawmakers in Brasilia have decried the far-right leader’s defiance of public health experts on the outbreak and his campaign to end state quarantine measures, which he has criticized for hurting the economy.

More than 30 motions have been presented in Congress to impeach Bolsonaro for trampling on Brazil’s constitution, mostly from leftist opponents. But Bolsonaro’s position is safe for now, four politicians said. “Bolsonaro has artificially stirred confrontation between democratic institutions, but my party is not seeking his impeachment because we cannot contribute to instability,” said Bruno Araujo, president of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party. — Reuters