Attorney General’s Office Analyzes Complaint Against Jair Bolsonaro
Brasil
31 marzo 2020

On March 31, a complaint filed with the Supreme Federal Court (STF, for its acronym in Spanish) against President Bolsonaro was made public, accusing him of “irresponsible conduct” in the management of the response to the pandemic. Although the complaint had been filed earlier with the Attorney General’s Office, the institution reported that it will not be processed until the president actually signs a decree “that contradicts the recommendations of the WHO and its own Minister of Health.”

It was reported that the STF admitted a petition filed by Deputy Reginaldo Lopes (Partido dos Trabalhadores – opposition) asking for a complaint to be brought against Bolsonaro based on his “repeated and irresponsible statements” about the pandemic. The request came after the media reported his statements and participation in public gatherings, in violation of the social isolation determined by his Ministry of Health.

Justice Marco Aurélio Mello took the decision to send the petition to the Attorney General’s Office to have it evaluated, as if they consider that there is a case for launching an investigation, Congress will have to be notified as it must authorize such a process. However, Attorney-General Augusto Aras explained that Bolsonaro’s declarations “are protected by freedom of expression” and “immunity from prosecution” but that the process will go ahead if Bolsonaro decrees a measure which contradicts the recommendations issued by the Minister of Health.

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