Bolsonaro Says Health Minister Lacks Humility, But Will Not Dismiss him ‘in the War’

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “I have always respected all ministers. We expect him to handle it. This isn’t a threat to Mandetta.  “I don’t intend to dismiss him in the middle of the war, but at some point he has exceeded himself. No minister of mine is ‘undismissable’, like the five who have already left,” Bolsonaro said.

“At times, I think Mandetta should listen more to the President. He said he has responsibility, but he takes care of health, (Paulo) Guedes of economy and I get in the middle. Mandetta wants to make his position happen. He may be right, but he lacks the humility to lead Brazil right now”.

According to Bolsonaro, “that hysteria, that climate of panic, has infected some there [inside the Ministry of Health]”.

“It’s time for everyone to put their foot down,” he said.

Faced with the decisions taken in the fight against Covid-19, Bolsonaro saw the pressure of the opposition for impeachment increase. But he vehemently stated that he is not contemplating the option of leaving office.

“For my part, the word ‘resignation’ does not exist,” he said. “Regarding the issue of impeachment, there are a number of rules. If you break them, you break the Tax Liability Act. That’s a major concern on our part.”

Fasting

Bolsonaro suggested “peace, tranquility for those who have faith” in the midst of the pandemic. And he spoke about the prospect of a national religious “fasting” to fight the coronavirus.

“Evangelicals and Catholics have been asking me, so that we could schedule a fasting day for all the Brazilian people, so that we could be free from this evil as soon as possible,” he warned.

Waiting for the ‘people’ to decree the reopening of trade

Bolsonaro said he hoped to be able to relax social isolation measures soon. But that depends on the population’s support.

“I have a draft decree that considers all the activities that are essential for people to be able to bring their bread home. I, as head of state, have to decide upon it. If that moment comes, I will sign this interim measure,” he said.

On social media yesterday, Bolsonaro published footage of a woman calling for the reopening of trade. “We have to take into account her emotional state [of the woman in the video]. I can open trade in the stroke of a pen,” he said.

The reopening of trade is a chance to boost Brazil’s economy in the midst of the pandemic. The President mentioned the economic growth expected for the country.

“Brazil was taking off. Our growth stood at 1.7 percent, it was to stand now at 2.5 percent in this first quarter. We have exceptions, but there are people who are seeking my chair,” in a new indirect attack on João Doria, São Paulo’s governor.

Bolsonaro seized the moment to make a point of criticizing Doria, particularly for the strict social restriction measures proposed by the governor of São Paulo.

“There are governors who indulge in cheap demagogy all the time, as is the case in São Paulo. Take this cheap speech. We are ready to help, but please, start opening trade. We don’t want to open it all at once, but it will open gradually (…). What are you thinking? Is it dictatorship? That’s not the way to deal with the population.Prohibiting them from going to the beach? The beach is there, in the open air.”

The president also mentioned the messages published yesterday by Doria and former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Twitter to voice his criticism of both.

“We cannot allow the mass destruction of the economy. He (Doria) is destroying his economy, and now he comes looking like an Immaculate Virgin asking for help. After he used my name to get elected, he is now aiming for 2022. His shames me through this approach to Lula at this moment, honestly. His mask fell off a long time ago. It made him look ridiculous, to sympathize with a person like that, an ex-convict who is on probation, let’s put it like this,” he said.