Doria Criticizes Bolsonaro: ‘Practice Compassion Rather Than Shooting’

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Mentioned by President Jair Bolsonaro during a press conference yesterday morning, the governor of São Paulo, João Doria, harshly criticized the President for his comments.

He said that families who lost loved ones to the novel coronavirus must be respected, and reacted to Bolsonaro’s statement, who answered when asked about the Covid-19 deaths, “So what? I’m sorry. What do you want me to do?”

“I can list a number of things you could have done that you didn’t do. That’s the answer, doing what you didn’t do. Starting by respecting Brazilians, respecting fathers, mothers, grandparents who lost people to the coronavirus, which you classified as a minor cold, which was not important,” said Doria before continuing.

“Respecting the mourning of more than 5,000 families who lost their loved ones and who are now buried. Respecting the doctors, the nurses, the health professionals, who unlike you are working to save lives, protect people, rather than going to shooting practice”.

“Stop this perverse policy, of getting in the way of those who are saving lives. Stop politicizing in a country that is mourning deaths. You said Brazil was experiencing a minor flu. What now, President? Faced with over 5,000 deaths, will you keep saying that the country is experiencing a minor flu pandemic?

Doria also recalled that on Tuesday the President had gone to shooting practice in the midst of the pandemic. The governor asked for greater commitment in the fight against Covid-19 and suggested that Bolsonaro have new attitudes. “Practice compassion rather than shooting.”

The governor also challenged the President to visit São Paulo in order to witness the situation of patients hospitalized in public hospitals. The state governor further said that Bolsonaro should “get out of his little world of hate”.

“I am inviting you to come to São Paulo. Get out of your dome in Brasília and join me on a visit to hospitals in São Paulo and look at that minor flu. Come watch the people dying in their beds. And if you don’t want to visit São Paulo, out of fear or some other reason, visit Manaus to see the collapse. Go help the state governor and the mayor of Manaus. Go look at reality, not the shooting stand while we cry. Get out of your bubble, out of your fable, out of your little world of hate. Stop visiting only your hate bureau, be sympathetic to Brazilians”, he criticized.

The Covid-19 crisis has magnified the quarrels between the President and the Governor of São Paulo. Doria was one of the first to implement social isolation measures and close trade. He has always advocated that science and doctors determine the steps to be taken.

Bolsonaro focused his efforts on advocating partial isolation, allowing people outside the risk group to leave home. He voiced concern over the economic consequences. The initial differences led to an escalation of criticism between the two, both pre-candidates for the 2022 presidential elections.

Source: UOL