Brazil President Bolsonaro joins demo against stay-at-home orders
Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday joined a huge selection of demonstrators outside army headquarters in the administrative centre Brasilia protesting stay-at-home orders issued by state governors.
The crowd of around 600 called on the army to intervene in the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and demanded the closure of Congress.
Some organized posters declaring "Military intervention with Bolsonaro".
"I am here because I really believe in you and you are here because you believe in Brazil," the president told the crowd from the trunk of a pick-up truck.
Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has constantly criticized partial quarantine measures adopted by governors, including those responsible for the country's most populous states, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
On Friday, he sacked his health minister, who supported the restrictions that Bolsonaro says are damaging the economy.
A supporter of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro talks about her mobile phone during a demo against quarantine and social distancing measures imposed by governors and mayors to combat the brand new coronavirus outbreak and demand military intervention in Brasilia. - AFP
A supporter of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro looks at her mobile phone during a demo against quarantine and social distancing measures imposed by governors and mayors to combat the brand new coronavirus outbreak and demand military intervention in Brasilia. - AFP
Brazil, with a population greater than 200 million, gets the most Covid-19 cases in Latin America -- a lot more than 38,000 as of Sunday, with an increase of than 2,400 deaths.
During his address, which was interspersed with fits of coughing, the president made no response to the crowd's demand military intervention nor the demand to close Congress.
"You need to fight for your country. Depend on your president to accomplish what is necessary to ensure that we are able to guarantee democracy and what is most dear to us, our freedom," Bolsonaro said.
The most populous states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro on Friday extended partial quarantine measures.
Most Brazilians approve the government's confinement regulations despite its effect on the economy, according to a poll published Saturday. -- AFP
