“Don’t Invent Lockdowns After Elections,” Urges Brazil’s President Bolsonaro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday, November 5th, in his traditional streaming on social media, that Brazil’s economy is reacting and, after quoting positive data on job creation in the country, asked mayors and governors not to “invent” new confinements and lockdowns after the November municipal elections.

“The economy is reacting, I pray to God that we return to normality and that they don’t invent new confinements and lockdowns for next year, after the elections,” he asked.

Bolsonaro cited CAGED (General Registry of Employees) data that have been positive since July as an argument for economic recovery.

The President was one of the main critics of measures implemented by governors and mayors for the temporary shutdown of economic activities to contain the spread of Covid-19.

In livestream, Bolsonaro also said the government has reduced the tax on toys from 35 to 20 percent. Again, he accused São Paulo governor João Doria of raising taxes. Regarded as a potential adversary in the 2022 presidential race, Doria has already rejected this accusation.

Fernando de Noronha

Bolsonaro further stated that he will pursue the federalization of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, which is currently a subdivision of the State of Pernambuco, and criticized what he considers a high cost to visit the location, advocating turning it into a tourist center.

“I suggested that we federalize Fernando de Noronha because it seems to have become an island for friends – I don’t want to mention names here to avoid creating problems – friends of the king, and I am not the king,” he said.

The President described it as “absurd” and “unbelievable” to pay R$100 to access a beach on the island. In fact, there is an environmental preservation tax of R$75.93 per day on the archipelago.

“It could be a source of resources for Brazil, coming from abroad, from tourism, to provide better living conditions to the population. So there are many things wrong in Brazil that we are slowly fixing, finding a solution. That island can’t have an owner,” criticized the President, though not mentioning who the “owner” of the place would be.

The current governor of Pernambuco is Paulo Câmara, affiliated with PSB, a party that has traditionally opposed the Jair Bolsonaro government.

Source: R7