Amid pandemic, Rio governor worries about his political survival

In October 2018, former judge Wilson Witzel went from being an unknown candidate for Rio de Janeiro’s governorship to one of the country’s fastest-rising political phenomena. In opinion polls just days before the election, Mr. Witzel was polling at just 4 percent — but he somehow managed to leapfrog all other candidates to pull off an upset, beating a former Rio de Janeiro mayor in the runoff. The quick ascension gave Mr. Witzel presidential hopes, which he has never missed an opportunity to voice publicly. But the governor is now facing a perfect storm of crises, and less than two years after taking office he is battling for political survival.

Rio de Janeiro is losing the battle against the coronavirus on multiple ends. Covid-19 is quickly spreading through the state — and the capital city presents the highest mortality rate among areas in which over 1 percent of people have coronavirus antibodies. Moreover, the effects of the economic crisis are starting to show, which will have major repercussions in a state that was left ravaged by the 2014-2016 recession. To make matters worse, Mr. Witzel is also suspected of involvement in a corruption ring working within the state’s health department — and has burned bridges with many parties in the state legislature.

Facing ten impeachment requests, Mr. Witzel could soon find himself kicked out of the office he upset all the odds to win. He needs just 35 votes on his side to block a potential ousting — but...