RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – When once again taking part in a crowded rally amid the coronavirus, President Jair Bolsonaro said the federal government “has provided all its support” to treat Covid-19 patients and that the country will come out stronger after this pandemic.
Before Bolsonaro arrived at the rally, presidential security guards asked the demonstrators to remove banners against Congress and the Federal Supreme Court (STF). One of them called the two agencies “saboteurs” and called for a new Constitution.
“A true demonstration of democracy. I am very honored by that. The federal government has provided its full support to the people who have contracted the virus, and we hope to be soon free of this issue for the good of all of us. Brazil, I am sure, will come out stronger”, declared Bolsonaro.
In a nod to Congress, the target of attacks in earlier rallies, Bolsonaro spoke of providing “better days for our population, particularly by the Legislative and Executive branches.”
However, he failed to mention the Judiciary, which has blocked some of his measures. The STF blocked the appointment of Alexandre Ramagem, head of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, to head the Federal Police – Ramagem is close to the Bolsonaro family.
“We want to build a better Brazil for everyone, I thank these wonderful people here, to whom I owe absolute loyalty. They are the ones who should dictate our norms and our direction. This is what we need: politics at the side of the people, with the people as our boss,” the President said.
Amid a political crisis, the President walked to the ramp of the Planalto Palace, along with Ministers and at least two of his sons – Deputy Eduardo and City Councilor Carlos – to greet the demonstrators.
Alongside Bolsonaro were Augusto Heleno, Minister of Institutional Security, Jorge Oliveira of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, Bento Albuquerque of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Tereza Cristina of Agriculture, Onyx Lorenzoni of Citizenship, Wagner Rosario of the Comptroller General of the Union, André Mendonça of Justice, and Marcos Pontes of Science and Technology.
Bolsonaro lowered his mask to speak at one point, picked up babies in his arms, and raised the hands of Ministers, disregarding social distancing recommendations.
At several moments of the rally, participants sang songs praising chloroquine, a drug advocated by the President, albeit lacking evidence of effectiveness against Covid-19.
Since the start of the pandemic, Bolsonaro has downplayed the impact of the coronavirus and opposed social distancing measures, a position that led to the dismissal of two Health Ministers in a month, Luiz Henrique Mandetta and Nelson Teich.
Despite saying he regrets the deaths, the President has often made ironic remarks when asked about the human losses to Covid-19. As when he stated he was not a gravedigger or when he said, “So what? I’m sorry. What do you want me to do? My name is Messias, but I don’t perform miracles.”
Before coming down to greet the public, he declared that this time there was “no banner, no flag that violates the Constitution, the Democratic Rule of Law.” Recent protests, investigated by the PGR (Office of the Prosecutor General), included antidemocratic claims, such as a military coup.
“What we want is to rescue the values that make up our nationality, to respect the family,” the President said.
However, before Bolsonaro arrived, Planalto security guards asked demonstrators to remove banners against Congress and the STF. The measure was coordinated by General Luiz Fernando Baganha, the Planalto’s security and presidential coordination secretary. Barganha personally asked a group of supporters to remove an elated protester.
The reporter witnessed Barganha guiding the security guards on how to approach the issue. “Take it easy. Ask for her to leave. Explain that it is detrimental to the President. He’s very concerned about that kind of message,” Baganha told his aides.
The security guards approached a group self-titled as “Bolsonaro’s Paratroopers” who were on the scene in military formation. They asked that any potentially harmful material be removed. The militants, in uniform with black T-shirts and red berets, carried knives, penknives, and pepper sprays”.
Source: Folhapress