This week, Brazil could be about to appoint a fourth Health Minister since the beginning of the pandemic. The Bolsonaro family make not-so-veiled threats about an armed power grab.
Pazuello’s days as Health Minister are numbered
Army General Eduardo Pazuello is not expected to see out the week as Brazil’s Health Minister, and may not even last until the end of the day. As the country faces its most brutal surge of Covid-19 infections and related deaths, political pressure is mounting on President Jair Bolsonaro to replace Mr. Pazuello.
- Firing Mr. Pazuello would mean Brazil will appoint its fourth Health Minister since the beginning of the pandemic.
Why it matters. As ineffective as Mr. Pazuello was as Health Minister, he was merely following orders from above. During his time in charge, the Health Ministry did little to secure coronavirus vaccines for Brazil, it touted unproven Covid-19 treatments, it tried to hide infection and death tallies — and it didn’t react to a call for help from Manaus, the biggest city in the Amazon, as it ran out of oxygen tanks in public hospitals.
- For the latter, Mr. Pazuello is under federal investigation.
Who will take the job? Cardiologist Ludhmila Hajjar is...