Congresswoman Alice Portugal advocates for the dismissal of the CEO of ANVISA.

247 - Congresswoman Alice Portugal (PCdoB/BA) demanded on Tuesday, March 17th, the immediate dismissal of the director-president of the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), Antônio Barra Torres, who accompanied Bolsonaro at a pro-government rally in Brasília last Sunday, March 15th. With the director's approval, Bolsonaro, even while under quarantine due to suspected coronavirus infection, approached demonstrators, took selfies with his face close to theirs, and touched people's hands, contradicting all ANVISA rules and guidelines for controlling the spread of the virus. According to the congresswoman, this is an absurd and indefensible action by a public official whose main function is precisely to ensure the country's sanitary control.

“In every respect, Antônio Barra Torres has shown Brazil that he is completely unfit to lead the main health regulatory agency in our country. His dismissal is urgent and necessary so that Brazilians can have a minimum of confidence in ANVISA at this critical moment, when we are facing a pandemic that is taking thousands of lives around the world and advancing in Brazil,” the congresswoman stated.

Bolsonaro, who tested negative for coronavirus, was advised to remain in isolation until next Wednesday, when the seven-day period since his last contact with the Secretary of Communication, Fabio Wajngarten, who is infected with the coronavirus, will be completed. 

“A country’s health authorities are taken as an example by the population and, therefore, must maintain irreproachable conduct at a time of the utmost gravity like the one we are living through, with the world facing a pandemic. The failure to comply with health safety recommendations by the CEO of ANVISA constitutes a crime and requires exemplary punishment, especially considering that Antônio Barra Torres, in addition to being the president of ANVISA, is a doctor and a member of the military,” Alice added.