Mandetta Favors Deferring 2020 Elections to Contain Coronavirus

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said Congress should defer this year’s municipal elections, scheduled for October, to halt the advance of the coronavirus in the country. The comment was made during a videoconference meeting with mayors of state capital cities on Sunday, March 22nd.

According to Mandetta, the electoral dispute could compromise the focus of the government and cause a “tragedy.” “I’m actually suggesting it here. It’s time for Congress to say: ‘defer’, retain these city councilors and mayors. An election in the middle of the year…a tragedy, because everyone will want to take political action,” he said.

The Minister commented in reaction to one of the mayors who mentioned political challenges with other players in the region to implement a number of containment measures.

“This is not the time to talk about this,” said Jonas Donizette, mayor of Campinas, president of the National Front of Mayors (FNP). Next, another manager was given the floor, and the matter was no longer discussed.

Since the consequences of the pandemic have intensified, leaders of Congress have begun to discuss the option of deferring the election of new mayors and city councilors.

Bolsonaro again criticizes “scaremongering”

Together with the Minister of Health at the meeting, President Jair Bolsonaro once again criticized what he terms “scaremongering” in the novel coronavirus crisis. “There’s a lot of scaremongering in the media. Some say I’m on the wrong track. I’m doing what I believe needs to be done. I may be wrong, but I think it should be handled this way,” he said.

Mandetta has led the federal government’s actions in fighting the pandemic. The President further said the situation of the disease in Brazil should not be compared to that of countries in Europe.

“We cannot compare Brazil with Italy. There the number of inhabitants per square kilometer is 200. In France, 230. In Brazil, 24. The climate is different. The population there is very old. This climate must not happen here because it causes a certain degree of anxiety and causes huge concern. A stressed person loses immunity,” the President said.

Bolsonaro left the meeting before its end. Upon leaving the videoconference, the President congratulated the mayors for putting “the public interest above all else”.

Source: Exame