Seeking a new term, Brazil’s top prosecutor changes stance on Bolsonaro

Brazil’s Federal Prosecution Office on Monday asked the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) to detail all warnings that were presented to former President Jair Bolsonaro with regard to the Covid pandemic.

Newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported that the intelligence agency produced over 1,000 warnings including projections of the expected human toll the coronavirus would take on Brazil. These documents highlighted the importance of social isolation and pointed out public health risks of delaying effective measures to fight the pandemic.

The Bolsonaro administration sealed all Abin warnings.

Prosecutor General Augusto Aras is exploring whether the reports may justify the opening of new investigations into Mr. Bolsonaro’s conduct in managing the pandemic. Brazil recorded more than 700,000 Covid deaths. 

Researchers believe that more than 100,000 lives could have been spared if the government had followed scientific consensus. But the Bolsonaro administration stalled vaccine purchases, spread Covid disinformation, and tried to hide public data relating to the global pandemic.

This move is certainly a change of approach by Mr. Aras, who faced harsh criticism for not keeping the president’s pandemic policies (or lack thereof) in check. A Senate inquiry called for the indictment of Mr. Bolsonaro for nine crimes, including crimes against humanity, but the Federal Prosecution Office shelved most investigations.

Since Mr. Bolsonaro named him Brazil’s top prosecutor, Mr. Aras shelved more than 100 investigation requests against the former president. With his term expiring in September, he now needs to get in the good graces of the new government — and political observers see movements towards a possible probe into Mr. Bolsonaro as his attempt to audition for a new two-year term.

Lula has been coy so far about who he will name for the job, but he is expected to privilege candidates who will be faithful to him — just like he did when he named his personal lawyer to the Supreme Court in June.

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