Paulo Cid Engineer, 55, who participated in a kind of latest bike rallies, stated he regarded Mr. Bolsonaro as a essentially trustworthy chief who has been unfairly attacked by scientific establishments and by the information media.
“I confess that my indignation become emotion,” he stated, recalling how he felt at a pro-government rally earlier this month in Rio de Janeiro. “I can inform my youngsters and grandchildren that I took my half in a motion looking for a greater nation.”
The federal government has additionally been shaken by scandals unrelated to the pandemic.
The Estadão newspaper revealed in early Might that Mr. Bolsonaro’s administration had steered a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} to questionable initiatives and purchases that strengthened the hand of key allied lawmakers. One case concerned the federal government’s buy of tractors at a 259 p.c markup.
Days after the Estadão report, federal police served search warrants on the ministry of the setting as a part of an investigation right into a suspected scheme to authorize unlawful exports of timber from the Amazon.
Amid the drumbeat of unhealthy information, Mr. Bolsonaro has stored a busy journey schedule, specializing in electorally necessary states in northeast Brazil, the place he has highlighted investments in infrastructure and primary companies.
The president’s essential political rival, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has kept away from endorsing avenue protests. However Mr. da Silva, who not too long ago gained court docket battles in a corruption case, which restored his proper to run for elected workplace, is clearly relishing the prospect of a grass roots face-off in opposition to a beleaguered incumbent. Latest public opinion polls present Mr. da Silva narrowly edging Mr. Bolsonaro in subsequent yr’s presidential contest.
“When Bolsonaro goes to the streets, he wants hundreds of law enforcement officials to guard him,” Mr. da Silva wrote on Twitter on Saturday. “Does he assume I’m afraid of him? I used to be born on the streets and spent my entire political life on the streets.”
Ernesto Londoño reported from São Paulo, Brazil, and Flávia Milhorance from Rio de Janeiro.