Brazilian Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta clung onto his job after disagreeing with President Jair Bolsonaro over the need for social distancing to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Bolsonaro has previously called the coronavirus a “little flu”, said that media and politicians are blowing the issue out of proportion, and that strict quarantine and lockdown measures threaten the safety of Brazil’s economy and democracy.
Aside from his prioritization of economic concerns over medical needs, he has also openly flouted medical advice. For example, he has refused his medical team’s advice to self-isolate after several members of his delegation to Florida, who met with Trump, tested positive for the coronavirus. Rather, he was seen at a rally, “shaking hands, bumping fists, and slapping […] backs”.
Hence, Brazil’s governors have had to take matters into their own hands and implement states of emergency and lockdowns by themselves. However, in return, Bolsonaro has called them “job killers” and ‘criminals’.
He has also repeatedly disagreed with Health Minister Mandetta over the need for social distancing and said that only at-risk individuals, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health problems, should be quarantined, while the rest should be “put to work”.
Moreover, mounting tensions and fractures between Mandetta and Bolsonaro led the President to proclaim, “Nobody should forget that I’m the president.”
Nevertheless, Mandetta held onto his post, saying, “A doctor does not abandon his patient. We will continue”. Mandetta even hinted at a change in direction, saying that the “government is taking a new position and it will be more focused”.
While Mandetta’s approval rating has risen from 55% to 76%, Bolsonaro’s has fallen from 35% to 33%, while the percentage of people who see his Presidency as a failure has increased from 33% to 39%.
Mandetta’s first order of business after ‘emptying out’ his desk was getting to the bottom of why a Chinese shipment of medical equipment to Brazil was canceled. Last week, the Health Minister claimed that the order was “ditched” after the US government sent 20 cargo planes to China to buy the same products that were originally scheduled to be delivered to Brazil. However, his claims were refuted by the US Ambassador to China, Todd Chapman, who on Tuesday said that these claims have been “investigated” and proven to be “false”. However, given that similar allegations have been laid by Germany, Canada, and France, Chapman’s rebuttal may require greater scrutiny.
Brazil now has over 16,000 coronavirus cases and in excess of 800 deaths.
Brazil’s Health Minister Clings Onto Job Despite Disagreeing With President Bolsonaro
President Jair Bolsonaro said, “Nobody should forget that I’m the president.”
April 9, 2020
IMAGE SOURCE: CAROLINA ANTUNES / BRAZILIAN PRESIDENCYBrazilian Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta