Press Review of the Americas

In the News: Jair Bolsonaro's home searched

Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press outside his home, searched as part of an investigation into falsified Covid vaccine certificates by his relatives, May 3, 2023. © AP/Eraldo Peres

Text by: Margaux Ratayzyk

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In Brazil, the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro was searched on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 as part of an investigation into falsified Covid vaccine certificates by his relatives. These false vaccination documents were allegedly used to circumvent health restrictions in Brazil and the United States.

The case "shakes" the image of Jair Bolsonaro, analyzes Folha de São Paulo. These setbacks with the justice system feed "the discourse according to which there is political and judicial collusion against the former president," the daily continues. For supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, these events are part of the "continuity of an alleged persecution that occurred during the electoral campaign". The presidential election was won in January by the left-wing candidate Lula. A columnist for the conservative weekly Veja writes that the former leader "may kick, cry, create false narratives and even fight, but he already knows that he is now the number one target of the federal police."

But this investigation "must go to the end", insists O Globo in an editorial, because "the accusation of fraud is serious, especially because of the pitiful role of the former president during the pandemic". Brazil was the second most affected country in the world by Covid, with 700,000 deaths.

The United States and Mass Shootings

The United States is facing more and more mass killings. The latest took place Wednesday in Atlanta, in the southeast of the country. A suspect was arrested on suspicion of opening fire in a hospital. One person was killed and four others injured. This drama is part of a long list. This is the 190th mass shooting since the beginning of the year in the United States, reports The New Republic "This is how the population should expect to live now," warns CNN. On its website, the American channel offers a dive "into the reality of mass shootings in the United States". CNN notes that with these types of killings, "attention is shifting rapidly." One shooting chases another, "leaving the bereaved and wounded to resume their broken lives." The analysis concludes that "judging by this week, the American reality is not about to change."

For its part, the Washington Post organized Wednesday a session of questions and answers on its website. Internet users were able to interview two journalists of the daily who worked on the shootings in American schools. And readers' questions reflect a certain concern of some Americans.

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What are the chances of my school being the scene of the next shooting? " says a reader. But fear is also present in parents. "I am a parent of 8- and 13-year-olds. [...] Unfortunately, the news around these shootings permeates even the youth media. Is there a way to calm their fears? A father asks the Washington Post. Others wonder about the means to act at their level. "How and for whom to vote so that our generation puts an end to this situation?" asks a 34-year-old reader.

In Ecuador, military operations to fight criminal gangs

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso is stepping up his fight against drug trafficking. He ordered Wednesday, May 3, 2023 military operations to fight criminal gangs linked to drug trafficking. These groups have been labeled "terrorist" since last week. In practice, the army will now be able to patrol the streets alongside the police, without the need to declare a state of emergency.

The goal is to "put an end to the violent spiral of organized crime and the murders, robberies and assaults that have shaken Ecuadorian society over the past two years," says the magazine Vistazo. But La Hora doubts the effectiveness of the measures adopted and fears reprisals from criminal gangs. "It should be borne in mind that this usually results in an equally harsh response," the newspaper warned in an editorial. La Hora recalls that this week "two police officers were shot dead in a violent attack. [...] It seems that this will be the trend after the announcement of the new security policy ", deplores the Ecuadorian media.

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  • Brazil
  • Jair Bolsonaro
  • Press review
  • Press Review of the Americas