This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/world/americas/bolsonaro-brazil-mask.html
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Judge Scolds Brazil’s President for Violating Mask Law | Judge Scolds Brazil’s President for Violating Mask Law |
| (8 days later) | |
| A federal judge in Brazil admonished President Jair Bolsonaro for failing to wear a mask in public spaces in the capital, a rare rebuke for a leader who has repeatedly dismissed the danger posed by the coronavirus even as his country became a major hot spot. | A federal judge in Brazil admonished President Jair Bolsonaro for failing to wear a mask in public spaces in the capital, a rare rebuke for a leader who has repeatedly dismissed the danger posed by the coronavirus even as his country became a major hot spot. |
| Although officials in the capital, Brasília, have ordered residents to wear masks whenever they are outdoors, Mr. Bolsonaro has often been seen venturing outside with his face uncovered. Sometimes he shakes hands and encourages crowds. | Although officials in the capital, Brasília, have ordered residents to wear masks whenever they are outdoors, Mr. Bolsonaro has often been seen venturing outside with his face uncovered. Sometimes he shakes hands and encourages crowds. |
| Now it may cost him. At least, financially. | Now it may cost him. At least, financially. |
| In an order issued late Monday, Judge Renato Coelho Borelli warned the president that he was subject to a $400 fine for appearing in public without a mask. | In an order issued late Monday, Judge Renato Coelho Borelli warned the president that he was subject to a $400 fine for appearing in public without a mask. |
| The order came as Brazil’s virus caseload passed one-million mark over the weekend. More than 50,000 people have died, and in recent days health officials have often reported more than 1,000 deaths a day. | The order came as Brazil’s virus caseload passed one-million mark over the weekend. More than 50,000 people have died, and in recent days health officials have often reported more than 1,000 deaths a day. |
| Those figures put Brazil behind only the United States. | Those figures put Brazil behind only the United States. |
| In his order, the judge wrote that a “simple Google search” yields several photos of Mr. Bolsonaro walking around Brasília without a mask, ”exposing other people to a disease that has caused national consternation.” | In his order, the judge wrote that a “simple Google search” yields several photos of Mr. Bolsonaro walking around Brasília without a mask, ”exposing other people to a disease that has caused national consternation.” |
| Several top aides of the president were found to have the virus in March after a presidential delegation returned from a trip to Florida, where Mr. Bolsonaro dined with President Trump. | Several top aides of the president were found to have the virus in March after a presidential delegation returned from a trip to Florida, where Mr. Bolsonaro dined with President Trump. |
| The order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by a Brazilian attorney, Victor Mendonça Neiva, who turned to the courts to call attention to the president’s cavalier handling of the health crisis. | The order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by a Brazilian attorney, Victor Mendonça Neiva, who turned to the courts to call attention to the president’s cavalier handling of the health crisis. |
| Earlier this month, many weeks after it had become mandatory to wear a mask in Brasília, Mr. Bolsonaro stopped at a police checkpoint to shake people’s hands, hug children and take pictures with supporters. He wasn’t wearing a mask. | Earlier this month, many weeks after it had become mandatory to wear a mask in Brasília, Mr. Bolsonaro stopped at a police checkpoint to shake people’s hands, hug children and take pictures with supporters. He wasn’t wearing a mask. |
| Judge Borelli reminded the president that no one is “above the law” and asserted that his conduct has demonstrated a “clear intent to break the rules.” | Judge Borelli reminded the president that no one is “above the law” and asserted that his conduct has demonstrated a “clear intent to break the rules.” |
| Even as Brazil’s pandemic worsened in recent weeks, Mr. Bolsonaro continued to rail against social distancing measures and business shutdowns. | Even as Brazil’s pandemic worsened in recent weeks, Mr. Bolsonaro continued to rail against social distancing measures and business shutdowns. |
| “We call on governors and mayors to find ways to reopen shops in a rational, responsible way,” he said in a video he posted on Facebook on Thursday. “Brazilians can’t tolerate staying at home anymore.” | “We call on governors and mayors to find ways to reopen shops in a rational, responsible way,” he said in a video he posted on Facebook on Thursday. “Brazilians can’t tolerate staying at home anymore.” |
| Updated August 24, 2020 | |
| Judge Borelli noted that several officials in the Mr. Bolsonaro administration are also failing to wear masks in public. | Judge Borelli noted that several officials in the Mr. Bolsonaro administration are also failing to wear masks in public. |
| A minister of education, Abraham Weintraub, was fined earlier this month for not wearing a mask when he joined a group of people in a pro-government demonstration. (Mr. Weintraub stepped down last week after the Supreme Court moved forward with a criminal investigation into disinformation campaigns in which he is a target, and made a hasty departure for the United States.) | A minister of education, Abraham Weintraub, was fined earlier this month for not wearing a mask when he joined a group of people in a pro-government demonstration. (Mr. Weintraub stepped down last week after the Supreme Court moved forward with a criminal investigation into disinformation campaigns in which he is a target, and made a hasty departure for the United States.) |
| In recent weeks, as Mr. Bolsonaro and his allies have faced mounting criminal and legislative investigations, he has limited public appearances. But the president and his allies have at times lashed out against members of the judiciary, complaining that some of their inquiries amounted to overreach. | In recent weeks, as Mr. Bolsonaro and his allies have faced mounting criminal and legislative investigations, he has limited public appearances. But the president and his allies have at times lashed out against members of the judiciary, complaining that some of their inquiries amounted to overreach. |
| Last week, after the Supreme Court took aim at the president’s close allies by allowing investigators to examine their bank records, Mr. Bolsonaro appeared in public and called the move a dangerous provocation. | Last week, after the Supreme Court took aim at the president’s close allies by allowing investigators to examine their bank records, Mr. Bolsonaro appeared in public and called the move a dangerous provocation. |
| “The time is coming to put things back in their proper place,” he said, fuming. | “The time is coming to put things back in their proper place,” he said, fuming. |
| Critics saw the warning as an affront to the democratic order. | Critics saw the warning as an affront to the democratic order. |
| But in that instance, at least, the president wore a mask. | But in that instance, at least, the president wore a mask. |