Bolsonaro demonstrates an inability to react to the crisis.

By Helena Chagas, for The Divergent and for the Journalists for Democracy

Global stock markets opened in collapse due to falling oil prices and the coronavirus. Here in Brazil, stocks and the dollar will follow the climate, adding to the factors that sustain our own crisis. For the first time, analysts have reduced their GDP growth estimate to less than 2% in 2020. We have already weathered other international crises. In the recent past, however, we have never been so weakened from a political and institutional standpoint.

What happens in these situations? Faced with the greater threat of collapse coming from outside, governments and political forces usually join forces against the worst. Economic crises of this magnitude force political actors to put aside momentary disagreements in favor of a unified agenda for national salvation, in a pact normally signed in Congress. When the situation improves, everyone goes back to fighting.

The biggest tragedy right now isn't the market crisis coming from abroad, nor the economic crisis here at home. It's the political instability originating from the President himself, precisely the figure who, at times like these, should be playing a unifying role among political forces to combat the crisis.

But not here and now. Jair Bolsonaro reacts to problems by shifting the blame to others—Congress, the Judiciary, the opposition. He calls for demonstrations against institutions instead of uniting them. He is incapable of reacting appropriately to the moment. The plane is crashing, and we have confirmation that there is indeed no pilot on board.

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