Let's see how the Brazilian opera plays out between the Bolsonaro and Doria
scmp.com
Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro speeds up coronavirus vaccine plan as his popularity takes a hit
The government distributed 6 million doses of shots from China’s Sinovac and gave the green light for immunisations to begin two days earlier than expected Bolsonaro’s popularity dropped 6 percentage points to 32 per cent in January, one month after his programme of cash handouts to informal workers expired
“Bolsonaro is losing some backing of his supporters,” said Marcio Coimbra, a political scientist who heads the Interlegis think tank in Brasilia.
“Emergency help was the main engine of his popularity, while the pandemic and vaccines have been a drag.”
Bolsonaro’s popularity dropped 6 percentage points to 32 per cent in January, one month after his programme of cash handouts to informal workers expired, according to a XP/Ipespe poll that surveyed 1,000 people between January 11 and 14.
Half of those interviewed wanted the government to come up with a similar emergency programme for a few more months. It was the first time since May that his popularity had taken a hit, the pollster said.
The president, who has repeatedly questioned the safety of the shots against a pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Brazilians, has been under growing political stress as national vaccination plans lag those of key regional partners and Covid-19 cases spiral again across the country.
To complicate things, shipments of the AstraZeneca booster – the federal government’s main bet to sustain a mass campaign – have been delayed with no new date set yet.
Without its main card readily available, the health ministry decided to start its nationwide campaign with the CoronaVac – a shot that has been sponsored by Doria but repeatedly criticised by Bolsonaro “due to its origin”.
Several state governors, who have been demanding a more forceful response from the health ministry, celebrated the decision on social media by posting photos and videos of vaccine shipments being boarded onto Brazilian air force planes.
With the CoronaVac being distributed nationwide, Doria scores a political win that strengthens his position as a possible contender in the 2022 presidential elections, said Coimbra, cautioning that other names are likely to emerge along the way. |
