Collapse

For 44% of people, Bolsonaro is responsible for the seriousness of the health crisis

The PoderData study reveals that women, youth aged 16 to 24 and people with higher education blame the president

Translated by: Ítalo Piva

Brasil de Fato | Brasília (DF) |
Survey is published at a time when Bolsonaro is facing criticism for his handling of the health crisis on multiple fronts - Fábio Rodrigues Pozzebom/Agência Brasil

For 44% of Brazilians, President Jair Bolsonaro is the one most responsible for the severity of the covid-19 crisis in the country. The data was revealed in a PoderData survey undertaken between March 29th and 31st, with a margin of error of 1.8 percentage points.

The study also shows that 23% of the population credits the health chaos to people who break safety rules recommended by experts, while 16% blame the governors of their state.

Another 8% consider that local mayors are responsible for the current crisis, 4% say that the Ministry of Health is to blame, and 5% chose the category "others" to pinpoint the culprits.

The survey spoke to 3,500 people in 541 municipalities in the nation’s 26 states, as well as the Federal District (Brasilia). The study also segments those interviewed who consider that Bolsonaro is to blame for the crisis.

Among women, 51% are part of this group, while the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds who fit the category is 60%. 59% of residents in Brazil’s northern region also believe the president is to blame, as well as 53% of people with higher education, and 61% workers who get paid between two and five minimum wages.

Those who least lay the blame on the President of the Republic are: men (36%), adults aged between 25 and 44 years (35%), residents of the Midwest and Northeast regions (38%), people with only elementary education (36%) and workers with an income of up to two minimum wages (37%).

When the survey is stratified to consider supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro, it was found that only 7% believe that he is the main culprit for the crisis.

Another 38% say that the responsibility lies with people who do not follow health rules and 35% of respondents blame the governors of their states. Among Brazilians who reject the president, 71% consider him as the main culprit.

Edited by: Vinícius Segalla