Supreme Court Justices and Senators Oppose Bolsonaro’s Anti-Isolation Measures

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The opposing indications given by President Jair Bolsonaro regarding the social isolation policies implemented by governors and mayors, have had negative repercussions among Supreme Court justices.

Members of the court said in private discussions that if the president pursues the plan to reopen trade, the measure will be blocked.

There is a propensity for Bolsonaro to be defeated in the judiciary in measures that confront recommendations from health authorities in Brazil and worldwide in relation to fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, March 29th, when visiting merchants in Brasília, Bolsonaro said he “wanted” to issue a decree allowing “any and all legally existing occupations or informal occupations” to return to their activities.

The President’s visit was an insult to the recommendations of his own administration, such as the Ministry of Health – a portfolio headed by Luiz Henrique Mandetta.

In a meeting with the President last weekend, the minister alerted that the end of preventive measures could significantly increase the number of deaths caused by the disease.

The Federal Supreme Court (STF) President, Justice Dias Toffoli, said on Monday, March 30th, that social isolation is an important measure to reduce the number of people infected by the Covid-19.

“Everything that has happened in the world leads us to believe in the need for isolation, aimed at flattening the curve [of the number of cases] and providing health care to the general population. It is a moment of solidarity in our country and in the whole world,” he said.

A similar position was expressed by Justice Gilmar Mendes, who also championed the actions of governors and mayors in the midst of the crisis. “It is true that we have these disputes, but, in my opinion, the Ministry of Health’s guidelines are unmistakable in the positions that states and municipalities have been advocating,” he said.

Resistance to defending Bolsonaro for loosening the rules is also in evidence in Congress. On Monday, leaders of the Federal Senate signed a manifesto in defense of social isolation.

“The Federal Senate expresses its agreement with the World Health Organization’s recommendations and endorses social isolation in Brazil, while asking the people to comply with the measures by remaining at home,” says the text.

Source: Infomoney