Why is Brazil’s President in trouble?

The Brazilian President has been hitting the headlines for some seriously negative news. On October 26, another news flash told us that the Brazilian Senate committee is recommending that President Jair Bolsonaro should face a series of criminal indictments for actions and omissions related to the world’s second-highest COVID 19 death toll. More than 6,00,000 people have died of COVID 19  in Brazil. The 11 member committee ended 6 months of investigation of the government’s handling of the pandemic with a vote against Bolsonaro. Prosecutors are being called upon to put Bolsonaro on trial for charges ranging from charlatanism and inciting crime to misuse of public funds and crimes against humanity. Bolsonaro denies these.  

What are the charges against Bolsonaro? 
The most debated charge is of inciting an epidemic that leads to deaths. Prison time for those convicted on this type of charge can go up to 20 to 30 years. Bolsonaro is also accused of violating health protocols, charlatanism (claiming false COVID cures), falsification of private documents, irregular use of public funds, crimes against humanity (by misleading a whole country), violation of social rights and breach of presidential decorum. The President is aaccused of not taking any action for a long time while people were dying of the pandemic, and this charge alone could end in suspending him from office.  

Is there enough proof against Bolsonaro? 
Unfortunately yes. Bolsonaro openly challenged health protocols, mocked about masks, minimalized the importance of COVID many times in his rallies, speeches, conferences and even on social media. His defence of drugs that don't work against the coronavirus are also well recorded. The President was repeatedly seen without a mask at gatherings, and he actively encourage this behaviour. He also claimed an anti-malarial drug was a cure for Corona.  

What will happen next? 
Brazil’s prosecutor-general, Augusto Aras, is a strong ally of Bolsonaro. So there is little chance of him prosecuting the President. There are 2 other outcomes: the President might have to face an impeachment (removal trial form office), or face charges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. There are no details on how or when any of this might happen.