The law is the same for everyone and the Brazilian president is already on his second fine for not respecting barrier gestures.
Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced on Saturday to a fine of one hundred and eight dollars for having participated without mask or sanitary measures in a demonstration of bikers in the state of Sao Paulo.
Thousands of motorcyclists took part in the “Accelerate for Christ” rally in Sao Paulo on Saturday.
The far-right president led the procession with an open helmet and no mask, in violation of state regulations.
Sao Paulo state authorities said they fined Jair Bolsonaro, his son Eduardo, a congressman, and Minister of Infrastructure Tarcisio Gomes, 552 reais (about $ 108) for failing to not to have worn a mask and not to have respected the measures of social distancing during the rally.
The Brazilian presidency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An assumed anti-mask
Jair Bolsonaro, who called for rallies across Brazil ahead of next year's presidential election, ignored warnings from Sao Paulo governor Joao Doria, a political rival, who said that the president would be fined if he did not obey state laws.
The Brazilian president has repeatedly opposed Joao Doria and other governors over measures imposed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed nearly 485,000 lives in Brazil.
- Maior passeio motociclístico do Brasil.
- Obrigado São Paulo.
- Presidente Jair Bolsonaro.
pic.twitter.com/UAK65z2Z7X
- Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) June 12, 2021
Bolsonaro regularly criticizes containment measures and mask wear, and promotes drugs such as chloroquine, as studies show they are ineffective. Addressing a crowd of supporters waving flags, he again protested against wearing the mask. He also believes that vaccinated people should not have to wear the mask. “It is impossible for a vaccinated person to transmit the virus,” he said. It should be remembered that there is no scientific consensus on the question of whether or not vaccinated people can be contagious.