Brazilian President Bolsonaro and his health minister have opposite views on fighting the corona pandemic. Their relationship has deteriorated in the past few weeks.
Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has dismissed Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta due to disagreements about measures to combat the corona virus. Mandetta himself announced this on Twitter.
"I just heard from President Jair Bolsonaro about my release," he wrote after meeting Bolsonaro at the government headquarters in Brasília. "I would like to thank you for the opportunity to plan how to deal with the pandemic, the major challenge facing our healthcare system."
Following the announcement, Brazilians demonstrated in various cities in the country. At so-called panelaços in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, for example, people hit pots and pans in protest, and "Bolsonaro out" calls were also made from open windows. As is often the case in Latin America, solidarity among the people is great. Those who can follow international recommendations and stay at home. Bolsonaro and Mandetta had different opinions about this. The president downplayed the corona virus as "gripezinha", triggered mass gatherings and called for a return to normal.
The health minister, who has been in office since the government began in January 2019, represented restrictions on public life and social distance. Both made their positions publicly clear in press conferences and television interviews, after which their relationship deteriorated in the past few weeks. "The Brazilians don't know whether to listen to the president or the minister," said Mandetta on Sunday's popular TV show "Fantástico."
Bolsonaro had accused Mandetta of "lack of modesty". The health minister outnumbered the president. A poll conducted by the Datafolha polling institute last week showed that 33 percent of Bolsonaros responded to the Corona crisis as good, 76 percent that of Mandetta. His release had been expected in political Brasília for some time. Cancer doctor Nelson Teich was traded as the successor.