Following Mandetta's "I'm staying," lawmakers highlight Bolsonaro's isolation.

By Nathalia Bignon, for 247 - After a day of much speculation about his departure, Luiz Henrique Mandetta stated, in a press conference on Monday night (6), that he will continue as Minister of Health, despite the difficulties. Amid a power struggle between Jair Bolsonaro and the minister, caused by disagreements regarding the measures proposed to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country, Mandetta's departure was even announced as a fact and resonated among parliamentarians.

“Bolsovírus (Jair Bolsonaro) still hasn’t had the courage to slap Brazil in the face by firing the Minister of Health. He trembled today, but he hasn’t given up on his genocidal psychopathy. Mandetta is following a technical and scientific script. And that exasperates the presidential ghost Bolsonaro. Firing the minister, at this point, is a criminal decision,” defined the deputy leader of the PCdoB, federal deputy Márcio Jerry (MA).

Representatives from the PSOL party, deputies Marcelo Freixo and David Miranda, both from Rio de Janeiro, expressed their disagreements with the minister, but defended his remaining in office. “I have many political differences with Mandetta. Many. But none of them are greater than my commitment to the lives of Brazilians. That's what's at stake,” said Freixo.

“Mandetta is far from being a dream minister; he represents the private healthcare lobby within the Bolsonaro government. But, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis, he speaks as a doctor, has never endorsed Bolsonaro's denialist discourse, and guides actions based on WHO recommendations,” Miranda endorsed.

Minority leader, Representative José Guimarães (PT-CE), highlighted Jair Bolsonaro's lack of composure in the face of the worsening crisis. "Today's episode involving Bolsonaro and his health minister is the clearest sign that he, Bolsonaro, is not in charge. Not that I'm in favor of Minister Mandetta's departure, but what's serious is seeing our country adrift, governed by people who lack the qualifications for this role," he emphasized.

The lack of political power and Bolsonaro's isolation were also mentioned by Congressman Bohn Gass (PT-RS). “It was the vice-president, General Mourão, who announced that Mandetta will remain in the Ministry of Health. This reinforces the perception that Bolsonaro is isolated, sidelined within his own government. It seems obvious that he wants to, but no longer has the power to dismiss the Minister of Health.”

Despite political differences, Camilo Capiberibe (PSB-AP) reiterated his support for Mandetta. “Ideological differences aside, Mandetta is guided by scientific knowledge, accumulated experience from other countries and international health organizations. He confronts the obscurantism of the wing of the government that is driven by egos, political disputes, fights, gossip and lies, against science, the press and other nations,” he declared.

Senate

In the Senate, Humberto Costa (PT-PE) even said that the attempt to dismiss the minister was further proof of the need for the president's impeachment. “Bolsonaro today gave the clear indication of his removal. We are facing the biggest pandemic in history, the number of deaths exceeds 68 worldwide. And the president leaves isolation to make veiled threats against the Minister of Health. This can't go on. Bolsonaro is a risk to life,” he concluded.

Fabiano Contarato (Rede-ES) praised the work of the health minister and advocated for Bolsonaro's resignation. "What Brazil needs to do is get rid of the Bolsonaro family once and for all, who unscrupulously jeopardize the health of their own people to serve the political and economic interests of the powerful! Congratulations on your work, Minister Mandetta!"

Former Speaker of the House, Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL), urged the public to heed the recommendations of experts. “Even with the explosion of cases and the number of deaths, the president is advocating genocide and social upheaval. Offending governors is in his nature, but to disregard the corpses piled up around the world is madness. How long, Catiline? Between the doctor and the monster, side with the doctors.”

Collective

During the interview on Monday night, Mandetta reaffirmed his commitment to remaining in the position, declaring that "doctors don't abandon patients." "We strive to be the voice of science. We opened the Ministry of Health to all other ministries. Criticism is always welcome, but not this kind, in the sense of hindering our work. The name of our enemy is Covid-19. We will continue," he declared. Without mentioning Bolsonaro's name, the minister stated that the meeting with the president and other members of the government was productive and that he hopes "to have peace to work."

boycotts

The disagreements between the two began soon after Mandetta publicly accepted and defended the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendations for social isolation as a measure to control the pandemic.

In favor of isolating only at-risk groups and returning to normalcy in order to avoid worsening the economic crisis in the country, Bolsonaro has staged a series of boycotts of the minister's speeches in recent weeks.