Bolsonaro's collision course with the Minister of Health puts the country at even greater risk.
Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, the only rational leader in the government's leadership during the coronavirus crisis, is becoming a target of Bolsonaro, and his eventual dismissal could trigger a crisis of very serious proportions.
247 - Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, the only rational leader in the government's leadership during the coronavirus crisis, is becoming a target of Bolsonaro. This dramatically increases the risk to the country. Bolsonaro is exposing Brazil to a risk unlike any other country, and Mandetta's potential dismissal could trigger a crisis of extremely serious proportions.
Despite his work combating the spread of the new coronavirus, Mandetta entered into a coalition with the former captain early in the crisis, when he ordered a ban on cruise ships leaving the country until it could overcome the health emergency.
According to a report on the journalist's blog Laura JardimBolsonaro reportedly insisted that Mandetta back down from his decision to ban cruise ships from leaving the country. "Perhaps because it contradicted his discourse that everything is fine in the country," the journalist points out. Mandetta, however, managed to maintain the ban.
A few days later, Bolsonaro breached The guidelines – from the Ministry of Health itself – emphasize the need to remain in quarantine and avoid contact with crowds, given that he was exposed to the risk of contagion during a trip to the United States.
Bolsonaro would also have... angry with the fact that Mandetta helped the governor of São Paulo, João Doria (PSDB), an adversary of the former captain, to develop a contingency plan to deal with Covid-19.
""Mandetta, what are you doing there next to Doria?", Bolsonaro reportedly asked. Although Mandetta replied that he was fulfilling his duties as minister, Bolsonaro apparently did not accept this, which could jeopardize the country's efforts to combat the pandemic.