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| Brazilian left demands Bolsonaro resign over coronavirus response | Brazilian left demands Bolsonaro resign over coronavirus response |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| President accused of cynically and criminally putting business interests over public safety | President accused of cynically and criminally putting business interests over public safety |
| Some of the most distinguished members of the Brazilian left have demanded Jair Bolsonaro’s resignation in a biting declaration that criticised what they called his cynical and criminally irresponsible handling of the coronavirus crisis. | Some of the most distinguished members of the Brazilian left have demanded Jair Bolsonaro’s resignation in a biting declaration that criticised what they called his cynical and criminally irresponsible handling of the coronavirus crisis. |
| Brazil’s far-right president has enraged large sections of society in recent days by downplaying the virus and wilfully undermining efforts to slow its advance with shutdowns and quarantines. | Brazil’s far-right president has enraged large sections of society in recent days by downplaying the virus and wilfully undermining efforts to slow its advance with shutdowns and quarantines. |
| On Sunday Bolsonaro ignored his own health minister’s call for physical distancing and hit the streets of Brazil’s capital, declaring: “We’ll all die one day.” | On Sunday Bolsonaro ignored his own health minister’s call for physical distancing and hit the streets of Brazil’s capital, declaring: “We’ll all die one day.” |
| In a manifesto published on Monday morning, some of Bolsonaro’s most prominent political opponents said lives would be lost because of such behaviour. | In a manifesto published on Monday morning, some of Bolsonaro’s most prominent political opponents said lives would be lost because of such behaviour. |
| “Brazil and the world are facing an emergency unprecedented in modern history … [and] in our country the emergency is exacerbated by an irresponsible president. Jair Bolsonaro is the greatest obstacle to urgent decisions being taken to reduce the spread of the infection [and] save lives,” said the document, first published in the Folha de São Paulo newspaper. | “Brazil and the world are facing an emergency unprecedented in modern history … [and] in our country the emergency is exacerbated by an irresponsible president. Jair Bolsonaro is the greatest obstacle to urgent decisions being taken to reduce the spread of the infection [and] save lives,” said the document, first published in the Folha de São Paulo newspaper. |
| They added: “Bolsonaro is in no position to keep governing Brazil … He commits crimes … lies and fosters chaos, taking advantage of the despair of our most vulnerable citizens. | They added: “Bolsonaro is in no position to keep governing Brazil … He commits crimes … lies and fosters chaos, taking advantage of the despair of our most vulnerable citizens. |
| “We need unity and understanding to face up to the pandemic, not a president who goes against public health authorities and puts his authoritarian political interests above the lives of everyone else. | “We need unity and understanding to face up to the pandemic, not a president who goes against public health authorities and puts his authoritarian political interests above the lives of everyone else. |
| “Bolsonaro is more than a political problem – he has become a public health problem … He should resign,” they concluded. | “Bolsonaro is more than a political problem – he has become a public health problem … He should resign,” they concluded. |
| “He needs to be urgently contained and must answer for the crimes he is committing against our people.” | “He needs to be urgently contained and must answer for the crimes he is committing against our people.” |
| The declaration, Brazil Cannot Be Destroyed By Bolsonaro, was signed by leading voices from across the Brazilian left including Ciro Gomes, Flávio Dino, Manuela d’Ávila, Fernando Haddad and Guilherme Boulos. | The declaration, Brazil Cannot Be Destroyed By Bolsonaro, was signed by leading voices from across the Brazilian left including Ciro Gomes, Flávio Dino, Manuela d’Ávila, Fernando Haddad and Guilherme Boulos. |
| Ciro Gomes said Bolsonaro’s conduct represented “the difference between hundreds of thousands of deaths or tens of thousands of deaths in Brazil”. | |
| “I believe he must answer for crimes against humanity at the International Court of Justice in the Hague – and I will work towards this,” Gomes told the Guardian. | “I believe he must answer for crimes against humanity at the International Court of Justice in the Hague – and I will work towards this,” Gomes told the Guardian. |
| Asked what his message to Bolsonaro was, Gomes said: “Resign, you reckless man.” | Asked what his message to Bolsonaro was, Gomes said: “Resign, you reckless man.” |
| Boulos said the irresponsible, erratic and backwards behaviour of Bolsonaro – who one Brazilian commentator this week nicknamed “Captain Corona” – meant he had to go. | Boulos said the irresponsible, erratic and backwards behaviour of Bolsonaro – who one Brazilian commentator this week nicknamed “Captain Corona” – meant he had to go. |
| “More than a political crisis, Bolsonaro now represents a public health problem,” Boulos told the Guardian. “We see no way for Bolsonaro to continue governing the country – this will cost Brazil a tremendous number of human lives.” | “More than a political crisis, Bolsonaro now represents a public health problem,” Boulos told the Guardian. “We see no way for Bolsonaro to continue governing the country – this will cost Brazil a tremendous number of human lives.” |
| Boulos claimed Bolsonaro’s undermining of quarantine and social distancing measures was partly the result of his being beholden to business owners who opposed a shutdown because it meant they would lose money. | Boulos claimed Bolsonaro’s undermining of quarantine and social distancing measures was partly the result of his being beholden to business owners who opposed a shutdown because it meant they would lose money. |
| “He represents the most perverse economic interests that couldn’t care less about people’s lives. They’re worried about maintaining their profitability,” Boulos said. | “He represents the most perverse economic interests that couldn’t care less about people’s lives. They’re worried about maintaining their profitability,” Boulos said. |
| Bolsonaro has rejected criticism of his response, which he claims is designed to protect workers and the economy. “We’re going to tackle the virus but tackle it like fucking men – not like kids,” Brazil’s president declared on Sunday. | Bolsonaro has rejected criticism of his response, which he claims is designed to protect workers and the economy. “We’re going to tackle the virus but tackle it like fucking men – not like kids,” Brazil’s president declared on Sunday. |
| Haddad, who lost to Bolsonaro in the second round of the 2018 election, said the pronouncement showed Brazilian progressives were uniting against the president’s threat. “Enough insanity,” he tweeted. | Haddad, who lost to Bolsonaro in the second round of the 2018 election, said the pronouncement showed Brazilian progressives were uniting against the president’s threat. “Enough insanity,” he tweeted. |