Members of Parliament condemn Secom's campaign: "a case for total prohibition"

By Nathalia Bignon, for 247 - The advertising campaign created by the federal government to defend the thesis of vertical isolation was one of the most commented subjects this Friday (27) among parliamentarians and politicians. With the slogan "Brazil Cannot Stop" and budgeted at R$ 4,8 million, the pieces broadcast today, via WhatsApp and social networks, defend the reopening of commerce and the return to normality for millions of Brazilian workers in the midst of the growing Covid-19 pandemic. 

"Brazil remains at the mercy of an irresponsible, incompetent, and objectively criminal president who, through his actions, favors the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic in our country. This warrants a total lockdown in defense of public health," argued the deputy leader of the PCdoB, federal deputy Márcio Jerry (MA).

Orlando Silva (PCdoB-SP) warned of the consequences of ending the isolation measures adopted in Italy. “The Presidential Palace is launching a hateful and irresponsible campaign against social isolation. Milan did this and counted thousands of bodies. Bolsonaro will have blood on his hands and will be in an untenable position with this madness. Brazil demands responsibility,” the congressman insisted.  

Mentioned by many congressmen, the tragedy in the European country was also recalled by Senator Weverton (PDT-MA). “Almost a thousand dead in Italy in one day. A terrible tragedy that we cannot allow to be repeated in Brazil. We cannot repeat the mistake they made by running the 'Milan cannot stop' campaign. For the lives of Brazilians, let's follow the science and maintain social isolation,” he argued. 

Alessandro Molon (RJ), leader of the PSB party, announced that he would file a complaint against the campaign with the Federal Court of Accounts. “To prevent the Brazilian government from making the same mistakes as the Italian government, the PSB has just filed a complaint with the TCU prohibiting the airing of this millionaire, absurd, and suicidal campaign! Stay home!”, he said, referring to the Italian government's decision to end the quarantine in order to avoid slowing down the economy. Three days later, the number of deaths doubled, reaching 9 this Friday. 

The leader of the PSOL party, federal deputy Fernanda Melchionna (RS), spearheaded a new hashtag, while the government's campaign slogan continued to climb the trending topics on Twitter this afternoon. "The leader of ignorance once again crosses the line: Bolsonaro is now running a multi-million dollar campaign without bidding to encourage Brazilians to return to normal. For the sake of the people's lives, #BrazilMustStopBolsonaro." 

Fellow party member Marcelo Freixo (PSOL-RJ) used social media to announce a lawsuit filed with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) to try to stop the dissemination of the messages. “URGENT! The federal deputies of PSOL have filed a complaint with the MPF against the criminal propaganda of the Bolsonaro government, carried out without bidding, which puts the lives of millions of Brazilians at risk. Don't listen to the flat-earthers, protect yourself, stay home!”, he urged.

For the minority leader, federal deputy José Guimarães (PT-CE), the pronouncement last Tuesday (24), when the president defended for the first time the end of isolation, revealed Bolsonaro's mental state. “The pronouncement dispelled any doubt that he suffers from mental imbalance and unpreparedness to hold office. Without responsibility and efficiency, alienated, he throws the country into uncertainty at a dramatic moment in national life, with the coronavirus pandemic,” he defined. 

Referring to the ambiguous guidelines that have been released by the Ministry of Health, Marcelo Calero (Cidadania-RJ) criticized the lack of clarity and responsibility of the Government. "A show of improvisation with other people's lives, coming precisely from those who have the responsibility to show the way and define perspectives," he commented. 

Collection of controversies

Before releasing the video yesterday, Bolsonaro added another controversy to his collection by stating that Brazilians "need to be studied" because they "jump into the sewer and nothing happens to them," comparing Brazil's situation to that of the United States in combating the new coronavirus pandemic.

After once again criticizing governors and mayors who adopted the closure of businesses, the president went so far as to defend, in his traditional weekly broadcast, that lottery houses throughout Brazil remain open, since there is no risk of transmission of the new Covid-19 because the glass separating employees from the public is "bulletproof".