Brazilian ‘Vaccine War’ Could Unite Political Center Against Bolsonaro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On the eve of the municipal elections, Jair Bolsonaro’s “erratic” actions have been classified by center parties and notables as yet another indication that, after the November elections, a strong political front will need to be built to face the president in 2022 and to find a name to personify his opposition. While Bolsonaro is campaigning for his second term, however, the main players of the so-called “democratic center” are still banging their heads.

Individualism and partisan interests are still obstacles to the articulations around a name that could represent the group. In search of adherence, there are even attempts to negotiate an eclectic front. Talks include PSDB, DEM, MDB, PSD, Podemos, Cidadania, PCdoB, PV, Rede, PDT and PSB. The last four are now opposing the majority in Congress.

However, nothing has progressed. According to members of these parties, one of the reasons is that PSDB is trying to enforce the name of São Paulo governor João Doria while PDT wants former Minister Ciro Gomes. “Strengthening democracy to allow a broader future composition of democratic fields will require the ability to dialogue, discernment, and humility. We must manage the contradictory, with less radicalism and more understanding,” Doria told Estadão, denying there was an obstacle to building a name.

The São Paulo governor has become Bolsonaro’s main political adversary. Under pressure from followers on social media, the President said “Doria’s Chinese vaccine” would not be purchased. “Leave the 2022 election for another time, Mr. President,” the governor fought back. On Tuesday, Bolsonaro accused Doria of raising taxes; the governor referred to him as “uninformed”.

Despite the President’s conflicting style, a survey by the National Transports Confederation (CNT) and the MDA Institute – released on Monday – showed that the government’s performance in the Covid-19 pandemic is approved by 57 percent of the population. The granting of emergency aid has leveraged Bolsonaro’s growth in popularity. The aid ends in December and, in an attempt to guarantee its continuity, the President is trying to get the ‘Renda Cidadã’ (Citizen’s Income) program off the ground.

In an interview with Roda Viva, a TV Cultura program, marketeer João Santana drew attention to this twist in Bolsonaro, who, according to him, “wants to stop being the moral hero and become the social hero.”

“We need to build an alternative project to this dismantling squad. This requires that public men put their differences aside,” said Ciro Gomes, a candidate defeated in the 2018 presidential dispute and one name cited as a candidate for 2022. According to him, this construction “is not easy, but absolutely necessary for Brazil.”

None of the talks for the creation of this center front includes Bolsonaro’s first Minister of Justice Sérgio Moro, also a potential candidate in 2022. According to politicians seeking to pursue the plan against the President, the ex-judge wants to “criminalize” politics and is flying solo.

Source: O Estado de S. Paulo

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