Brazilian President 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.
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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 Bolsonaro, his son Eduardo, a congressman, and Minister of Infrastructure Tarcisio Gomes, 552 reais (about $ 108) for 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.
Mr 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 had said the president would be fined if he did not obey state laws.
Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly opposed Mr Doria and other governors over measures imposed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed nearly 485,000 lives in Brazil.
The president regularly criticizes containment measures and the wearing of masks, and promotes drugs such as chloroquine, as studies show they are ineffective.
Addressing a crowd of supporters waving flags, Mr Bolsonaro again protested against wearing the mask.
The president said people who have been vaccinated should not have to wear a mask. “
It is impossible for a vaccinated person to transmit the virus,
” he said. There is no scientific consensus on whether people vaccinated can be contagious.