The forces enabling Jair Bolsonaro to create a coronavirus disaster

Many premature obituaries have been written for the Jair Bolsonaro administration. Over the last month alone, mistaken death sentences were issued following Sergio Moro’s resignation from the Justice Ministry, and then the tumultuous exit of two Health Ministers amidst the worst pandemic in a century. It has been commonplace to assert that his presidency is on its last legs.

However, despite the 32-plus impeachment requests currently sitting on House Speaker Rodrigo Maia’s desk, Mr. Bolsonaro’s presidency is far from over. There is life to this unmitigated disaster yet. 

How, then, is Jair Bolsonaro’s position still relatively secure despite the fact he is now leading what is widely regarded as the world’s most inept response to the Covid-19 pandemic? Brazil’s confirmed totals stand at 16,118 dead and 241,080 infected, not taking into account the massive underreporting experts have warned about. One of the primary reasons is that many of Brazil’s most powerful leaders and institutions are actively enabling this unfolding disaster.

The Armed Forces

Most notably there are the Armed Forces. Mr. Bolsonaro’s cabinet contains more military members than any in the history of Brazil — including the 1964-1985 military dictatorship. The number of officers serving is set to increase with the likely appointment of General Eduardo Pazuello as the new Health Minister, gaining a promotion from his previous role as deputy to former head Nelson Teich. While many commentators insisted the presence of generals would constrain Mr. Bolsonaro’s worst instincts and...