Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has continued his criticism of Covid-19 lock-downs and restrictions, telling supporters his administration will continue to fight for their freedom.
The far-right leader spoke on the occasion of his 66th birthday on Sunday having defied so called expert advice on social distancing and face masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
He did however appear in a face mask to greet supporters who had gathered to wish him a happy birthday outside the presidential palace in Brasilia.
However, many in the crowd did not wear masks and Bolsonaro used his impromptu speech to renew his attacks on stay-at-home measures ordered by mayors and governors.
He stressed that some tyrants were seeking to restrict the country’s freedom they would not allow that to happen. He urged his supporters to count on the country’s armed forces to defend their freedom and democracy.
The But the Brazilian Leader is facing renewed pressure as nearly 200 economists and business leaders, former finance ministers and central bank presidents, published an open letter Sunday urging the government to accelerate Brazil’s lagging vaccination campaign.
But President Bolsonaro has argued that the economic damage caused by lock-downs is worse than the virus itself.
