Brazil's Bolsonaro Indicted for Falsifying Covid Vaccine Records
Common DreamsMar 20
Bolsonaro Indicted Over Alleged Fraud in COVID Vaccine Records
The Facts
Brazil's Supreme Court unveiled on Tuesday an indictment against former Pres. Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly falsifying COVID vaccination records in the country's public health database for his own benefit and that of his daughter.
Police claim that the conservative leader, while in office, ordered one of his aides to manipulate vaccine certificates so that they could enter the US at a time when proof of vaccination was still required for entry.
The Spin
Left narrative
Bolsonaro presided over one of the worst COVID responses in the world as he claimed vaccines were ineffective. It appears his corrupt ways and spreading of misinformation have finally caught up to him. On top of that, he instigated a coup d'etat after he lost in a free and fair election. This forgery scandal is one of many that show his character as an amoral demagogue. Hopefully, justice will be served in this and the many other cases he's faced with.
Right narrative
You don't have to be a Bolsonaro supporter to see that Lula is using the judicial system to punish his predecessor. Lula is a leftist career politician who was convicted on corruption charges before they were stunningly reversed by activist judges. Right-leaning figures across the nation are being censored, and checks and balances are being curtailed as the legal system is increasingly used as a weapon against opponents. Leftist institutions are being weaponized against Bolsonaro.