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Former Brazil President Lula fears 'genocide' in country due to Bolsonaro

WION Web Team
Sao Paolo, BrazilUpdated: May 16, 2020, 04:37 PM IST
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Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro Photograph:(Reuters)

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He accused Bolsonaro of steering Brazil toward 'chaos' with his calls to reopen the economy despite the country emerging as one of those hardest hit by the new coronavirus worldwide, with nearly 14,000 deaths so far.

Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that he fears a ''genocide'' in Brazil due to the ''callousness'' of current President Jair Bolsonaro.

He accused Bolsonaro of steering Brazil toward "chaos" with his calls to reopen the economy despite the country emerging as one of those hardest hit by the new coronavirus worldwide, with nearly 14,000 deaths so far.

"The administration is turning anyone who's worried about coronavirus into an enemy, and that's not the right path. 

Earlier, Brazil's Health Minister, Nelson Teich, resigned on Friday after less than a month on the job.

This resignation points towards the Brazilian President's pressure for the nation to prioritize economy over public's health.

Nelson Teich took the office on April April 17. He took over at a time when the country is under severe pressure to balance the public health with the President's view of saving the economy.

Lula is a former union leader who fought Brazil's military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985, then became one of the country's most popular presidents with an anti-poverty crusade.

The 74-year-old was jailed after his term on corruption charges that he says were trumped up to keep him from running for president again.