Top rightwing Brazil newspaper demands removal of Bolsonaro
Source: The Guardian
Top rightwing Brazil newspaper demands removal of Bolsonaro
Call comes as outrage over Covid and corruption drags presidents ratings to lowest ever level
Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro
Sun 11 Jul 2021 16.58 BST
One of Brazils leading conservative newspapers has demanded the removal of the countrys president, Jair Bolsonaro, as public outrage over his coronavirus response and corruption dragged the rightwing populists ratings to their lowest ever level.
Jair Bolsonaro is no longer in a position to remain in the presidency, O Estado de São Paulo declared on Sunday as polls showed that for the first time a majority of citizens backed impeachment and considered their leader incapable of governing.
Bolsonaro, a former paratrooper and an admirer of Donald Trump, took office in January 2019, using social media to portray himself as a corruption-busting anti-establishment maverick who had come to drain Brazils swamp. Critics have long questioned that image, pointing to incessant accusations of low-level corruption and mafia ties that have dogged Bolsonaros family.
The anger appears to have spread across Brazils electorate in recent weeks, largely thanks to an unfolding scandal over allegedly corrupt Covid vaccine deals and Bolsonaros handling of the countrys Covid-19 outbreak, which has killed more than 530,000 people.
This is Jair Bolsonaros worst moment. Hes melting and the idea people have of him is melting, said Eliane Cantanhêde, a political columnist for O Estado de S Paulo, who said a congressional inquiry had laid bare the presidents crass and preposterous pandemic response.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/11/top-brazil-newspaper-demands-removal-of-jair-bolsonaro