Disapproval of Bolsonaro’s Government Rises in Poll Amid Slow Virus Fight
(Bloomberg) -- Disapproval of Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro’s government rose in a public opinion survey amid broad push-back against his stance on the coronavirus outbreak.
Those who consider Bolsonaro’s government “bad” or “terrible” rose to 42% from 36% a month ago, according to a XP Ipespe poll released Friday. Roughly 60% said they disagree with the president’s proposal to limit social distancing, while 80% said the Health Ministry’s stricter quarantine proposals are the best way to stop the pandemic from spreading.
The figures represent the latest round of bad news for Bolsonaro, who has come under fire for his lax response to the pandemic that has killed more domestically than anywhere else in Latin America. Brazil’s economy is expected to contract this year as the virus brings activity to a halt and confidence sinks. Discontent has already started to boil over, as protests against the president have taken place in the country’s main cities.
Read more: ‘Little Flu’ Can’t Hurt Him: Why Bolsonaro Still Shuns Lockdowns
In recent days, Bolsonaro has questioned the work of Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, a view that is at odds with 68% of survey respondents who said Mandetta’s virus response was “good” or “great.” In turn, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes’s stance was viewed positively by 37%.
Half of respondents said the economy is on the wrong path, and nearly all of them said it would be affected by coronavirus. Almost half said there is only a “small” or “very small” chance of keeping their job in the next six months.
The XP Ipespe poll surveyed 1,000 people nationwide between March 30 and April 1. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
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