Thousands of Brazilians protested again to demand the removal of President Bolsonaro. Photo: AFP.
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Thousands of Brazilians returned to the streets this Saturday, convened by unions, student organizations and social movements, in order to reject the management of the coronavirus pandemic of President Jair Bolsonaro and claim his dismissal, in addition to repudiate corruption and demand emergency financial aid and a vaccination plan more sustained.
The demonstrations, which were replicated in 21 states and more than 90 cities, were unexpectedly lured by the decision on Friday night of the Supreme Federal Court, the highest court in Brazil, to open a investigation of Bolsonaro for the crime of prevarication. He is accused of having been aware of a case of corruption in the purchase of Covaxin vaccines and not having reported it to the authorities.
This Saturday, it was the third day of demonstrations in recent weeks against the Government, which has been facing increasing pressure due to a parliamentary investigation into alleged omissions in its administration. pandemic management, which already left more than 500,000 dead in Brazil.
The largest mobilizations were in Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Brasilia and São Paulo, although there were also protests in other state capitals such as Belem (Par, north) and Macei (Alagoas), and in the cities of Goiana and Florianpolis, where they were seen banners that prayed “Bolsonaro genocidal”, “Impeachment ya” and “Yes to vaccines”.
Other capitals such as Belem (Par), Recife (Pernambuco) and Macei (Alagoas) also registered demonstrations. Photo: AFP.
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In the first two months of hearings, the Parliamentary Investigation Commission (CPI) of the Senate focused mainly on the delay in sealing agreements with pharmaceutical companies to purchase vaccines, while Bolsonaro promoted the use of ineffective drugs against Covid-19 -as hydroxychloroqiuna- and criticized social distancing measures.
But since last week the testimony of an official of the Ministry of Health changed the focus of the investigations by declaring that last March he suffered “atypical pressure” to complete a purchase of three million doses of the Indian vaccine Covaxin which, in his opinion understand, it presented signs of irregularities, including a price much higher than that paid by Brazil for any other immunizer.
Official Ricardo Miranda, brother of Bolsonarista deputy Luis Miranda, claimed to have personally transferred the suspicions to Bolsonaro, who would have promised to take the case to the Federal Police, something he apparently did not do.
Slogans such as “Bolsonaro genocidal” or “Vaccine in the arm and food on the plate” recalled the more than 520,000 deaths from Covid-19 and the need to increase aid”
This motivated this Friday the opening of an investigation by the Attorney General against the president, to find out whether or not Bolsonaro committed the crime of prevaricate, by allegedly not reporting suspicions of irregularities.
The Supreme Federal Court endorsed the decision that the Federal Police be in charge of questioning the president about that contract that was suspended this week, after the explosion of the scandal and three months after the meeting at the Government House in which Miranda commented to Bolsonaro on the irregularities.
This scandal about Covaxin was the first to explode in June, followed by another in which the American company Davati, dedicated to medical supplies, denounced a logistics director of the Ministry of Health for asking him for a bribe of 1 dollar for each AstraZeneca vaccine that was received. offered in an outsourced manner, in a contract that was never fulfilled.
The opening of the investigation adds to the “super request” of impeachment for 123 violations of the Constitution presented by the opposition, from the right and the left, to Congress.
In the march in Rio de Janeiro, tens of thousands of people gathered on Presidente Vargas avenue in a festive and peaceful atmosphere, and the vast majority wearing masks against Covid-19, according to the Sputnik agency.
The opening of the investigation adds to the “super request” of impeachment for 123 violations of the Constitution that the opposition, from right and left, presented before Congress”
In addition, although there were times of conglomerations, especially in large cities, in general the protesters tried to respect social distancing, according to the G1 news portal.
The rally was at the Zumbi Monument, near the Sambdromo, from where the protesters marched towards Cinelandia.
The screams and banners with slogans like “Genocidal Bolsonaro” or “Vaccine in the arm and food on the plate” They reminded the more than 520,000 deaths from Covid-19 that Brazil accumulates and the need to increase aid to tackle growing poverty and hunger.
In Recife, meanwhile, the protest united Derby Square with Conde da Boa Vista avenue; in Brasilia the demonstration was in front of the National Museum and in São Paulo in front of the Museum of Art.
There was a small rally in London as well, opposite Parliament Square, where flags and banners were stained with red paint, symbolizing death. “Stop the genocide”, “Out with Bolsonaro” and “Brazil matters” were some of the repeated laws.
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