Brazil Health Minister Resigns... Third Replacement Since COVID-19 Crisis

Ahead of the quarantine measure debate, 2 officials were dismissed
Current minister, a military veteran, resigns under criticism

[Image source=Reuters News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] In Brazil, where the spread of COVID-19 is still reported to be severe, the Health Minister's announcement of his intention to resign has intensified controversy. Foreign media pointed out that this is the third replacement since the COVID-19 outbreak, showing ongoing conflicts between President Jair Bolsonaro and health authorities regarding the COVID-19 response.

According to foreign media including the AP News, on the 14th (local time), Eduardo Pazuello, Brazil's Health Minister, informed President Bolsonaro of his intention to resign due to health reasons, and President Bolsonaro is reportedly already searching for a successor. This marks the third time the Health Minister has been replaced since the COVID-19 crisis began in Brazil.

Previously, Luis Henrique Mandetta, who served as Health Minister at the start of the Bolsonaro administration in early 2019, and his successor, Nelson Teich, were both replaced after ongoing disputes with President Bolsonaro over COVID-19 response strategies. From the early stages of the COVID-19 spread, President Bolsonaro dismissed the risks by claiming COVID-19 was no more than a common cold and continued to refuse wearing masks, acting against health authority guidelines.

Minister Pazuello, who has served as Health Minister until now, is an active military general and a non-expert in the health field. He had been serving as minister since May last year, appointed by President Bolsonaro, but has faced continuous criticism for limitations in handling the COVID-19 response and has been under pressure to resign within Brazil.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.