By Faith Uchara
Following the devastating Corona Virus Resurgence in Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro has replaced Six Ministers.
On Saturday, 27th March, the country’s death toll surpassed 3,000 for second day in a row, and on Thursday’s night, Brazil’s health Minister reported the gruesome figure of more than 100,000 new covid-19 cases confirmed in a single day–the country’s highest such figured since the pandemic began.
The aftermath of this on Monday, 29th of March led the President to replace six of his Ministers in a reshuffle that appears designed to to secure greater loyalty as the country’s covid-19 crisis balloons.
Resignation letters were released by now ex-ministers throughout the day, with Former Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva releasing a statement saying he had “preserved the Armed Forces as a State institution”. He will be replaced by Army General Braga Netto, the former Government Minister.
Former Attorney General Andre Levi, who refused to sign Bolsonaro’s lawsuit to lift three state Governors’ lockdown orders, also published a letter of resignation. Be will be replaced by Andre Mendoca, Brazil’s former Justice Minister, whose Former bsest at the Justice Ministry will now be filled by Federal Police Chief Anderson Torres, a friend of the Bolsonaro family.
The former Secretary of State, General Luiz Eduardo Ramos, was appointed Government Minister. Flavia Arruda, a federal deputy is now the Secretary of State.
And the former Foreign Affairs Minister Ernesto Araujo has been replaced by diplomat Carlos Alberto Franca.
These changes appear to put several army generals closer to Bolsonaro in more strategic positions, following several other replacements at the top of Brazil’s federal government this month.
Marcelo Queiroga, Brazil’s fourth health Minister since the beginning of the pandemic, was sworn in quietly just last week, replacing Eduardo Pazuello. A new coronavirus crisis committee including state officials was also recently formed to confront Brazil’s devastating coronavirus resurgence.