Coronavirus

Bolsonaro extends Sunday “ritual” of breaking social isolation

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, President Jair Bolsonaro has consistently flouted social isolation measures, conducting government meetings without a mask and meeting with his supporters on the street. Sunday has become the day of protest in the capital of Brasília, as his hardcore supporters take to the streets to protest lockdown measures, Congress, and the Supreme Court. 

Like clockwork, every Sunday around midday, Mr. Bolsonaro leaves the presidential palace to meet his supporters, frequently shaking hands and embracing them.

Today was no exception, despite the fact Brazil’s Covid-19 death toll is now over 20,000 and the country has the second-highest number of infections in the world. Mr. Bolsonaro left the presidential palace (without a mask or any protective gear, for that matter) to greet the assembled crowd, hugging various supporters and giving them the thumbs up.

Yesterday, the president was spotted in public eating a hot dog, before he was forced to flee by a crowd calling him a “murderer.”

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Benjamin Fogel

Benjamin Fogel is a Ph.D. candidate in Latin American History at New York University and a Contributing Editor to Jacobin Magazine.

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