SAO PAULO: Brazil鈥檚 governors are defying President Jair Bolsonaro over his call to reopen schools and businesses, dismissing his argument that the 鈥渃ure鈥� of widespread shutdowns to contain the spread of the new coronavirus is worse than the disease.
Bolsonaro contends that the clampdown already ordered by many governors will deeply wound the already beleaguered economy and spark social unrest. In a nationally televised address Tuesday night, he urged governors to limit isolation only to high-risk people and lift the strict anti-virus measures they have imposed in their regions.
鈥淲hat needs to be done? Put the people to work. Preserve the elderly, preserve those who have health problems. But nothing more than that,鈥� said Bolsonaro, who in the past has sparked anger by calling the virus a 鈥渓ittle flu.鈥�
The country鈥檚 governors protested on Wednesday that his instructions run counter to health experts鈥� recommendations and endanger Latin America鈥檚 largest population. They said they would continue with their strict measures and, in a joint letter, nearly all of them begged the federal government join forces with states. The rebellion even included traditional allies of Brazil鈥檚 president.
Gov. Carlos Mois茅s of Santa Catarina state, which gave almost 80% of its votes to Bolsonaro in the 2018 presidential runoff, complained he was 鈥渂lown away鈥� by the president鈥檚 instructions. Mois茅s said he would insist that all residents stay home during the pandemic despite the president鈥檚 stand.
In a videoconference Wednesday between Bolsonaro and governors from Brazil鈥檚 southeast region, Sao Paulo Gov. Jo茫o Doria threatened to sue the federal government if it tried to interfere with his efforts to combat the virus, according to video of their private meeting reviewed by The Associated Press.
鈥淲e are here, the four governors of the southeast region, in respect for Brazil and Brazilians and in respect for dialogue and understanding,鈥� said Doria, who supported Bolsonaro鈥檚 2018 presidential bid. 鈥淏ut you are the president and you have to set the example. You have to be the representative to command, guide and lead this country, not divide it.鈥�
Bolsonaro responded by accusing Doria of riding his coattails to the governorship, then turning his back.
鈥淚f you don鈥檛 get in the way, Brazil will take off and emerge from the crisis. Stop campaigning,鈥� the president said.
The governors weren鈥檛 the only defiant ones. Virus plans challenged by Bolsonaro were upheld by the Supreme Court. The heads of both congressional houses criticized his televised speech. Companies donated supplies to state anti-virus efforts.
Bolsonaro on Wednesday told reporters in the capital, Brasilia, that he has listened to his US counterpart, Donald Trump, and found their perspectives to be similar. On Thursday, he issued a decree to allow religious services, despite states鈥� quarantine orders, then ridiculed journalists for gathering outside the presidential residence while their outlets prescribe social distancing.
鈥淟ook, people of Brazil: they say I鈥檓 wrong, and that you have to stay home,鈥� he said with a grin, then turned to face the press. 鈥淪o I ask, what are you doing here?鈥�
He has found some support among his base 鈥� #BolsonaroIsRight trended atop Brazilian Twitter on Wednesday 鈥� though that backing has been countered by a week of nightly protests from many Brazilians respecting the self-isolation rules who lean from their windows to bang pots and pans.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, though, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
As of Thursday, Brazil had 2,915 confirmed cases and 77 deaths related to the outbreak, with nearly 200 people in intensive care units. Experts say the figures could soar in April, intensifying pressure on the country鈥檚 stretched health care system. There is particular concern about the virus鈥� potential damage in the ultra-dense, low-income neighborhoods known as favelas.
Bolsonaro鈥檚 administration has also faced criticism from economists, including Arm铆nio Fraga, a former central bank governor, and Claudio Ferraz, a professor at Rio de Janeiro鈥檚 Pontifical Catholic University.
鈥淏razil is seeing something unique, an insurrection of governors,鈥� Ferraz wrote on Twitter. 鈥淭his will become a new topic in political science: checks and balances by governors in a Federal System.鈥�
Rio de Janeiro Gov. Wilson Witzel, another former ally of Bolsonaro, also told the president in the videoconference that he won鈥檛 heed the call to loosen social distancing protocols.
Last week, Witzel announced he would shut down airports and interstate roads, which Bolsonaro annulled by decree contending that only the federal government can adopt such measures. By the time the president took to the airwaves Tuesday evening, a Supreme Court justice had ruled in favor of Witzel.
Two days earlier Brazil鈥檚 top court issued another ruling allowing Sao Paulo state to stop repaying federal government debt amounting to $400 million so that it can beef up its health sector. The decision may set a precedent for other states.
Sao Paulo, Brazil鈥檚 economic engine, is home to the majority of the coronavirus cases. It has been under partial lockdown since Tuesday, and schools, universities and non-essential businesses have mostly been closed for more than 10 days. Rio state has adopted similar measures, including closing its beaches.
Gov. Ronaldo Caiado of Goi谩s state, a physician who had been a close Bolsonaro ally, participated in a meeting late Wednesday of nearly all Brazilian governors to coordinate their efforts. The federal government wasn鈥檛 invited.
Caiado told reporters he is redefining his relationship with Bolsonaro.
鈥淚 cannot allow the president to wash his hands and hold others responsible for the coming economic collapse and loss of jobs,鈥� Caiado said. 鈥淭hat is not the behavior of a leader.鈥�