RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Washington Post, regarded as one of the most prominent publications in the United States, and known for its “progressive” political posture, has made room for an opinion article by Brazilian anthropologist Rosana Pinheiro-Machado of the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, who openly advocates the impeachment of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Under the headline “Bolsonaro is endangering Brazil. He must be impeached”, Rosana Pinheiro cites his “alarming inability to govern” and accuses him of “irresponsible and divisive behavior”.
“As the new coronavirus spreads in Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro has demonstrated an alarming inability to govern the country, undermining the pandemic and efforts to protect and save lives. And as a result of his irresponsible and divisive behavior, he has plunged Brazil into a deep crisis. He must be removed from office.”
In the text, the anthropologist says that Bolsonaro took part in crowd events, shaking hands with supporters, countering advice from health experts.
“And he ignored the recommendations to practice social distancing after members of his own team tested positive for the virus. It is clear that Bolsonaro has abandoned his duty to protect the population,” she says.
In her assessment, Rosana Pinheiro concludes by saying. “The impeachment can be a difficult political and legal process. (Brazilians have already experienced a highly politicized process against Dilma Rousseff). But the case against Bolsonaro is bulletproof. Today it represents an existential threat. There must be deep political articulation and social legitimacy to accomplish his removal, and a transition must be carefully planned”.