New investigation against Bolsonaro for spreading false information

A judge at Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court on Friday ordered the opening of another investigation against President Jair Bolsonaro for spreading false information in a video linking the COVID-19 vaccine to AIDS.

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The decision of Judge Alexandre de Moraes, a member of Brazil’s highest judicial body, responds to a request from a Senate committee that in October accused the head of state of committing serious crimes during the pandemic, along with five others. An investigation has been opened against Mr. Bolsonaro, so far without result.

The subject of this new investigation: a video clip in which the far-right president quotes supposed official reports from the British government “indicating” that people who have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus develop AIDS “much faster than expected”.

This information was rejected by the British government for the fact-checking service of AFP and the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases, among other medical organizations.

The video was captured from Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The video platform also decided to suspend Mr. Bolsonaro’s channel for a week.

In August, the STF decided to open an investigation against Jair Bolsonaro for “defamation” and “incitement to crime” in a case related to the interrogation of the Brazilian electronic voting system.

The president is also the subject of other investigations aimed at determining whether, in cases involving members of his family, he interfered with the federal police or for publishing a police report – sealed – on social networks – regarding an alleged attack on the electoral system.

With less than a year before the presidential election, the 66-year-old leader’s popularity rating has never been low.