RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The president pointed out that some 40 million informal workers are a concern for the government and, therefore, called for the end of restrictive measures implemented to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has already killed more than 375,000 Brazilians.
“The formal economy figures evidence that Brazil is recovering. As for informality, it is a catastrophe, 40 million people who have lost everything or almost everything in life,” he said during a meeting at the Planalto Palace with evangelical leaders from Anápolis (GO).
“These people are a great concern for us because they need to quickly reopen their activities,” he said.
In his speech, excerpts of which were released by participants in the meeting, the president says he is prepared for a scenario of “social chaos.” “It could happen overnight. Supermarket looting can begin, and the most varied problems possible in Brazil,” he said.
“I am prepared to act in this respect, I can even tell you in advance: I would issue a decree that would indeed be carried out. It would be carried. Because there is no one to say that it will not be complied with, it is unconstitutional, because I am going to run over it so that we can enforce Article 5 of the Constitution,” he declared. The article in question deals with the “inviolability of the right to life, liberty, equality, security, and property.”
Opposed to lockdown measures to curb the pandemic, Bolsonaro said “everyone is losing” with the lockdown policy, which is, however, recommended by the World Health Organization to reduce the virus contagion. “We ask God that common sense prevails within our society, especially in the political class, for us to seek our normality,” he said.
Source: Isto É