Amid one of the worst sanitary crises ever seen, President Bolsonaro cuts ties with his Health Minister, but doesn’t sack him just yet. Brazilians are about to get 40 percent poorer than they were in 2013. And a decision that could cost the country even more jobs.
Bolsonaro breaks with his Health Minister — but doesn’t fire him
After saying on Sunday that “[his] pen is powerful” and that it would be used to fire cabinet members who had become “stars,” President Jair Bolsonaro was convinced to keep Luiz Henrique Mandetta as his Health Minister. A source close to the minister confirmed to Brasília correspondent Brenno Grillo that a decision had been made — and Mr. Mandetta’s replacement had already been picked (former Citizenship Minister Osmar Terra). But two generals in the cabinet, Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo and Chief of Staff Walter Braga Netto, managed to tame their boss’ mercurial temperament.
Why it matters. Mr. Mandetta, one of the few science-driven ministers in the Bolsonaro administration, will continue to head the fight against Covid-19.
What is happening. Messrs. Bolsonaro and Mandetta defend different approaches to Covid-19. The president has been an outlier among world...