Brazil’s Bolsonaro at UN: We regret all deaths that occurred during the pandemic

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday (21) that he regrets all the deaths that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, but that isolation and lockdown measures left a legacy in inflation, mainly, regarding food.

He stressed that he has always been committed to fighting the pandemic, but also to the economy. Bolsonaro also highlighted the measures taken by the government, such as the emergency program that paid billions to 65 million Brazilians, and the maintenance of employment and income.

The president also said that the country’s growth estimate for this year is 5% and that 90% of the adult population has already received the first dose of the vaccine. “We support vaccination, however, we stand against the vaccination passport,” he said. Bolsonaro also said that until November all Brazilians who want to be vaccinated will be attended.

He also defended the autonomy of doctors in the use of medicines against Covid-19. The president even said that he was one of those who made the early treatment and that the government respects the relationship between the doctor and the patient.

Bolsonaro said he didn’t understand why countries and a large part of the media were against an early treatment called in Brazil Covid Kit (hydroxychloroquine sulfate, azithromycin, ivermectin, and nitazoxanide). About the decisions, during the pandemic, he declared: “History and science will know how to hold everyone responsible.”

Bolsonaro highlighted that Brazil is living in new economic times and has one of the best performances among the emerging economies, besides being one of the best investment destinations.

BOLSONARO DEFENDS FREEDOM TO USE LAND FOR AGRICULTURE

President Jair Bolsonaro said in the same speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) that an area of more than 110 million hectares, that of Germany and France combined, is destined for indigenous reserves in the country, and defended the freedom to “use lands for agriculture”.

The Federal Supreme Court (STF) is judging the so-called “temporal mark” theory that would limit the demarcation of historic indigenous territories to those they actually occupied on October 5, 1988, when the new Constitution was promulgated. For now, the judgement is tied 1 to 1 and has been suspended. There is no date set for the case to return to the STF agenda.

The president also said that Brazil has always welcomed refugees, as on the Venezuelan border. According to him, 400 thousand Venezuelans have already been received due to the Bolivarian dictatorship. He also pointed out that the future of Afghanistan causes concern and that he is willing to receive Afghan Christians, women, and children in Brazil.