Coronavirus

Poll: Brazilians disapprove of Bolsonaro’s approach, but don’t want him to resign

poll bolsonaro covid-19
Photo: Roberto Parizotti/FP

A new poll by Datafolha shows that 51 percent of Brazilians believe President Jair Bolsonaro does more harm than good to the country’s ability to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. However, 59 percent of respondents are against his resignation from the job (while 37 percent want him to step down from the presidency).

Support for Mr. Bolsonaro is stronger among business owners — 65 percent say he has what it takes to lead the country — voters from the South (62%), and high-income people (49%). Meanwhile, younger voters and women are the most in favor of his resignation (44 and 42 percent, respectively).

The poll shows that 76 percent of Brazilians believe Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta is doing a good job against the pandemic. The crisis has helped drive world leaders’ popularity up as states become key actors in supporting citizens financially — as unemployment is set to spike around the globe — and contain the spread through restrictive measures. The exceptions are Mexico’s Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador — the last major leader to take Covid-19 seriously — and Jair Bolsonaro, who still hasn’t.