COVID-19 in Brazil: political crisis and state responses

This week, Meia speaks with her co-host, Antônio Sampaio, Research Fellow for Conflict, Security and Development, on how Brazil has been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has made headlines due to his unorthodox response to the COVID-19 virus, sacking his health minister, Luiz Mandetta, and largely disregarding or undermining the medical community’s advice on how best to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Brazil. As Antônio explains, this has left the onus on state governments to develop their own responses to the pandemic and put extreme pressure on Brazil’s public health system.

Amid this pandemic, Brazil is also experiencing an acute political crisis following the resignation of Bolsonaro’s popular Minister of Justice and Public Security, Sérgio Moro. Antônio assesses how this scandal could impact the Bolsonaro government and Brazilian politics in the future.

Finally, in the absence of strong federal leadership, Antonio explores how civil societies, and even some criminal organisations, are taking on new responsibilities to combat COVID-19.

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Date of recording: 5 May 2020

Sounds Strategic is recorded and produced at the IISS in London.

Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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