Lula: "The Brazilian people are not just numbers, they are people."

247 Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strongly criticized Jair Bolsonaro's statements in reaction to the tragic news that Brazil, with more than 5 deaths, has surpassed the number of deaths in China, where the outbreak began. Brazil has at least 71 confirmed cases and 5 deaths caused by the disease. 

"This lack of respect and solidarity from Bolsonaro towards the victims of the coronavirus and their families shows that we need to discuss a change of government," Lula stated in an interview with Super Rádio Tupi (RJ). "It's serious, this is a result of Bolsonaro's misrule. He doesn't take care of the pandemic, he doesn't take care of the economy, and he doesn't take care of the people," he added.

Asked about the death toll, Bolsonaro stated"So what? I'm sorry. What do you want me to do? I'm the Messiah, but I don't perform miracles," he said, making a pun with his name, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, and a biblical character.

According to the former president, Bolsonaro "turned governors into enemies, turned mayors into enemies, everyone who says something contrary becomes an enemy." "It's impossible to govern the country like this," he lamented.

In the interview, the former president also criticized the new Minister of Health, Nelson Teich. "He doesn't understand anything about health. He deals with investment funds, not health," Lula remarked.

According to the former president, the government needs to implement measures that guarantee protection for all workers. "It's not just an economic or financial issue. We need to take care of human beings first and foremost. The Brazilian people are not just numbers, they are people," he said. 

Lula argues that Brazil cannot spare any effort to save lives and jobs, circulating money to keep the economy going. "We have to ensure that people can survive for as long as the pandemic lasts."