Brazil’s Supreme Court opens investigation into President Jair Bolsonaro. He would have been aware of possible corruption within the Brazilian Ministry of Health with an order for 20 million doses of the corona vaccine Covaxin.
The investigation is launched at the request of the Attorney General of Brazil. Bolsonaro is said to have played a role in a possible fraudulent deal between the Brazilian government and Bharat Biotech, an Indian producer of, among other things, corona vaccines. Bolsonaro denies involvement and says he was not aware of any indications of corruption.
A health ministry whistleblower has said he personally pointed out to the president that he had been pressured by his superiors to buy the vaccines. Despite that warning, the president took no action, he is accused.
The drug’s contract is also under investigation by federal prosecutors and lawmakers to uncover why the government struck a swift deal with a producer’s agent after Pfizer’s offers for lower-price vaccines were ignored.
Ten thousand Brazilians have taken to the streets in the major cities today. They are demanding the departure of Bolsonaro because they believe he is responsible for the high number of corona deaths in Brazil. More than 500,000 people have died from the virus since the outbreak of the pandemic. Bolsonaro has invariably toned down the severity of the pandemic. A committee of inquiry is investigating the corona policy.
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