Covid-19 in Brazil: disclosure of report incriminating Jair Bolsonaro postponed

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro could be targeted by at least 11 charges for his management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here, during a ceremony in Aparecida, October 12, 2021 © Carla Carniel, Reuters

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

The report of the Senate commission of inquiry on the management of the Covid-19 pandemic was to be made public on Tuesday, October 19.

Its publication was postponed for a day, until Wednesday, October 20.

The responsibility of President Jair Bosonaro could be blamed for his policy deemed " 

 ", according to 11 charges against him.

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As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in Brazil, representatives of the families of the victims are expected to testify before the Senate commission of inquiry on Monday, October 18.

They will try to convince how many deaths could have been avoided among the more than 600,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic in Brazil.

They could also explain how the government would have made matters worse, according to the charges, reports our correspondent in São Paulo,

But this highly anticipated Senate report will no longer be presented on Tuesday, October 19, as planned. Senators wanted an extra day to debate the content of the 1,000-page document. It will finally be " 

 ", announced the chairman of the committee, Omar Aziz, on Twitter. In case, the divergences appeared on the subject of the content of the text.

Friday, October 15, Renan Calheiros announced at least 11 charges against

, including " 

 ", " 

 " and " 

 ".

Several ministers and three sons of Jair Bolsonaro should also be incriminated.

Among the facts, the report referred to the “ 

” of Native Americans due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but other moderate senators felt the term was inappropriate.

Brasilia between " 

omissions

 ", purchase of overpriced vaccines and deaths without oxygen

For five months, the small Senate chamber where the hearings of the commission of inquiry took place has been the scene of often heated exchanges, sometimes with insults, tears - and even the arrest of a witness for perjury. .

This big show, broadcast live on television for weeks on end, exposed the main “ 

 ” of the government during the health crisis.

The senators notably tried to establish responsibility in nightmarish episodes such as the death of dozens of asphyxiated patients in January for lack of oxygen in hospitals in Manaus, in the Amazon.

By hearing ministers, parliamentarians, but also representatives of private companies, the committee also looked at other known facts, such as delays in the acquisition of vaccines.

Clandestine experiments carried out without the knowledge of patients

But during the hearings, explosive revelations were made, in particular on corruption scandals.

Jair Bolsonaro is suspected by the Senate commission of inquiry of having turned a blind eye to a 

which has already earned him an investigation by the prosecution.

The government is also accused of promoting 

 ineffective "

" against the virus, in particular based on hydroxychloroquine, a controversial drug whose merits the president has repeatedly praised.

But Brazilians were especially shocked by the extremely serious accusations against Prevent Senior, a private hospital and mutual health service, suspected of having carried out 

and of having minimized the death figures. of Covid-19.

" 

 " Bruna Morato, a lawyer for 12 doctors, told AFPTV, saying she was forced by Prevent Senior to take part in these experiments.

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" 

Bolsonaro and his entourage have committed a lot of crimes

 "

The Senate commission of inquiry does not have the power to initiate proceedings directly, but its report will be sent to the competent bodies such as the prosecution or the Court of Auditors, and could also be transmitted to the International Criminal Court, where d 'other complaints have already been filed against Jair Bolsonaro.

" 

 " the chairman of the commission, Omar Aziz, told AFP.

Only symbolic impact

Analysts believe, however, that this report will have only a symbolic impact in the short term.

The far-right leader still has the necessary support in Parliament to block a possible impeachment procedure.

But the political consequences could prove disastrous for the one who is far from being assured of being re-elected in less than a year, because given largely defeated by the ex-president of the left Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Once made public, the vote for the committee's approval of this report, initially scheduled for Wednesday, will take place the following week, on October 26, Omar Aziz announced.

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• Brazil

• Jair Bolsonaro

• Coronavirus

• Justice