Who is Luiz Henrique Mandetta, Brazil’s Health Minister (for the time being)

Once unknown to the Brazilian public — let alone to foreign observers — Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta was thrust into the limelight by the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming one of the most popular cabinet ministers in the current government. However, the public knows very little about Mr. Mandetta from before March 11, when the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic.

Mr. Mandetta is often described as having been a “technical appointment” to Jair Bolsonaro’s cabinet, as opposed to a political one. Indeed, the Health Minister does not display utter contempt for science, unlike some of his peers. His decisions throughout the pandemic have been backed up by evidence, as opposed to gut feeling or wishful thinking. He also displays a low profile on social media, especially in comparison to the crass style of Education Minister Abraham Weintraub or of President Jair Bolsonaro himself.

However, this image of Luiz Henrique Mandetta as an impartial, apolitical medical expert, guided only by science, is inaccurate. Mr. Mandetta is a career politician, and his recent spats with Jair Bolsonaro have helped that side of his persona shine through.

The elected member of Congress politician in him was more apparent than ever on Sunday evening, when he gave an interview to weekly news program “Fantástico,” on leading TV station Globo. In the 20-minute segment, the Health Minister repeatedly defied his boss, with almost every answer and behavior taking on a political sting.

For starters, Mr. Mandetta spoke from the home of Goiás state governor Ronaldo Caiado, his ally and fellow member of the center-right Democratas party. Mr. Caiado, who had endorsed...