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Bolsonaro Defends Virus Response, Amazon Strategy in UN Speech

Bolsonaro Defends Virus Response, Amazon Strategy in UN Speech

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, speaking to world leaders at the United Nations, defended his government’s track record during the coronavirus pandemic while rejecting criticism of his handling of Amazon fires for a second consecutive year.

The far-right president started his 15-minute pre-recorded speech by saying he lamented the loss of life to the virus but again lashed out at doctors’ social distancing guidelines, saying their dissemination by the local press spread “panic” among the population and threatened the economy.

“Since the very beginning, I alerted that we had two problems to solve in my country: the virus and unemployment, and that both needed to be dealt with responsibly,” he said. “‘The mottoes ‘stay at home’ and ‘we’ll take care of the economy later’ almost brought social chaos to the country.”

Bolsonaro Defends Virus Response, Amazon Strategy in UN Speech

With more than 4.5 million infections and 137,000 deaths from Covid-19, Brazil is one of the world’s hotspots for the virus. Yet businesses have mostly reopened and the economy is now expected to suffer a milder recession than initially feared. Bolsonaro’s own popularity soared during the crisis as the government gave emergency cash handouts to a large part of the population.

Amazon Fires

Turning to the Amazon, Bolsonaro again blamed “hidden international interests” for unleashing a “brutal disinformation campaign” against his policies on the rainforest.

Like in California, he said, fires are more common during the dry season and mostly happen on the edges of the forest where residents burn vegetation to cultivate food for subsistence. Larger areas of the Amazon are “wet“ and don’t normally burn, he added.

Bolsonaro Defends Virus Response, Amazon Strategy in UN Speech

After a record number in 2019, the number of Amazon fires is poised to increase at least 7.5% this year by the end of September, according to data from Brazil’s space agency.

“Brazil’s Amazon is known for its riches; that explains the support of international institutions in a campaign of hidden interests associated with unpatriotic Brazilian associations, with the goal to hurt the government and Brazil itself,” Bolsonaro said.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.