RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A strategist by nature, the governor of the state of São Paulo, João Dória, held a press conference on the new Coronavirus.
Highly articulate, with flawless Portuguese, Dória has at times appeared as a national leader, at least by publicly challenging President Jair Bolsonaro’s actions or lack thereof. Conversely, the President’s supporters say that Dória is turning the crisis into his political platform.
When asked how he views Bolsonaro’s statement that the Coronavirus would be “just the flu”, Doria said that he felt “disappointment and sadness”.
“”As state governor, I’d like to have a president to lead the country in a crisis like this. It saddens me, as a citizen. It is sad that we lack leadership that can lead his team and calm Brazilians. I am not saying this with a political slant, but rather as a Brazilian. In the absence of this leadership, governors and mayors are doing what Bolsonaro can’t do.”,
“It’s unforgivable that they downplay this, it’s not just the flu,” he added.
In a recent interview, Bolsonaro had said that “after the stabbing, it won’t be the flu that takes me down”. The president’s remarks came after being asked by journalists whether he would take another test to detect the Coronavirus.
Doria also said that the “macro measures should come from the Federal Government. However, due to the lack of action, the governors have been working to protect the population”.
“No economic interest can be greater than the social interest of health. Demonstrations such as parties, funk dances or dances of any kind of music will be suppressed. I condemn those promoting such events,” he said.
The governor’s press conference was broadcast through the country’s main communication channels, as well as the Internet, promoted by the state government itself. In the chatbox, which is open to the public, the protests against Bolsonaro were direct.
Internet user Adrina Malcher wrote that “Bolsonaro is no longer president”. Others wrote “Out, Bolsonaro,” although there were some supporters, such as one identified as Dr. Lolla Rose who said “long live President Bolsonaro. May God protect him”.
Internet user Marco Aurelio asked, “How can there be anyone defending Bolsonaro at this point in the game?”
The other side
A friend of President Jair Bolsonaro for over forty years, the current federal deputy Colonel Armando, heard exclusively by The Rio Times, berated the governor of São Paulo: “Doria is an opportunist politician who was elected on the coattails of Bolsonaro, breaking a promise to continue as mayor, so you can’t always believe him”.
Asked about the term “flu”, said by Bolsonaro, the deputy says the term is being taken out of context. “Doria has a political goal, he seems to be in his (partisan) program, his role seems like he’s on the stage”.
Federal Government vs States
Colonel Armando also challenged the jurisdiction of states. “They are running over the federal jurisdiction, on closing airports and roads. It is a joint effort by the governors to undermine the federal government,” he said, adding, “The governor has no authority to close an airport or federal highway”.
He is concerned about the economy “You can’t close everything, it needs to be gradual, if you close everything now, the economy will not survive. The economic chain cannot be broken”.
According to him, the federal government is taking action. “There is a Crisis Office, with several areas involved, so that a solution will emerge that is not only immediate”.
“We live in a federation, the president organizes it. And Doria is decreeing the state’s complete isolation… this is an insidious campaign of a politician who is unreliable”.
Press bought
According to the deputy, the questions at the press conference have been slanted. Moreover, he says that Governor João Doria “is paying the press”. “He (Doria) pays the press, pays TV Cultura, the questions are slanted, they are producing answers that focus on undermining Bolsonaro’s government. Every interview I see of Doria makes it seem like he (Doria) is good and he (Bolsonaro) is bad.”