Brazilian Senate investigates those responsible for COVID-19 crisis in the country: NPR

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A parliamentary inquiry has started in Brazil into the president’s response to the pandemic. He downplayed the importance of the pandemic leading to devastating outbreaks of COVID-19 that overwhelmed hospitals.

NOEL KING, HOST:

COVID has killed more people in Brazil than in any other country except the United States.

Philip Reeves of NPR said the Brazilian Senate is now pointing the finger.

PHILIP REEVES, BYLINE: There is a day that Brazilians cannot easily forget. It’s a Tuesday three weeks ago. This Tuesday, April 6 was the deadliest day of the deadliest month of the pandemic in Brazil, said Renan Calheiros, a Brazilian senator.

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RENAN CALHEIROS: (speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: “It’s impossible to erase April 6,” he said.

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CALHEIROS: (Speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: “That day there was one death from COVID in Brazil every 20 seconds.”

(EXTRACT FROM THE ARCHIVED RECORD)

CALHEIROS: (Speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: Calheiros is addressing a small group of other senators.

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CALHEIROS: (Speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: He asked them for 20 seconds of silence to mark April 6 …

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REEVES: … And to honor the 395,000 Brazilians who lost their lives. These senators are members of a parliamentary commission that is about to begin investigating Brazil’s response to the pandemic.

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CALHEIROS: (Speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: “Brazil has the right to know who contributed to the thousands of deaths,” Renan said.

Investigators were sworn in yesterday. The conduct of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is part of their investigation. They will want to know why he promoted antimalarial drugs as a remedy in defiance of medical advice. Why is he subverting social distancing? Why did Bolsonaro block the purchase of certain vaccines last year? Even now, less than 7% of Brazilians are fully immunized. Some cannot get their crucial second dose due to supply shortages.

(EXTRACT FROM THE ARCHIVED RECORD)

RANDOLFE RODRIGUES: (speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: “We have a duty to find out why Brazil still does not have enough vaccines,” said Brazilian Senator Randolfe Rodrigues, who is one of the 11 members of the investigation.

(EXTRACT FROM THE ARCHIVED RECORD)

JAIR BOLSONARO: (speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: Bolsonaro looks unrepentant.

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BOLSONARO: (Speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: On Monday, he attacked COVID restrictions again. He accused governors of using them to subjugate Brazilians and threatened to use the military to protect the public’s right to free movement.

Political analyst Marcio Coimbra says this is how Bolsonaro talks when he is in trouble.

MARCIO COIMBRA: I think he is deeply worried because when he feels under pressure, he shows that he feels under pressure.

(EXTRACT FROM THE ARCHIVED RECORD)

BOLSONARO: (Speaking Portuguese).

REEVES: Philip Reeves, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

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