“Savior,” she said.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit Brazil, and businesses closed and local officials urged people to stay home, the government began pumping $110 per month into the wallets of the poorest citizens. Matias Maia, who fed her two children with that money, knows whom to credit.

“I would now vote for Bolsonaro,” she said. “He is helping us so much.”

And yet, the right-wing former army captain is more popular than at any time since the beginning of his presidency.

Even in the unpredictable world of Brazilian politics, where alliances are fleeting and politicians routinely go to prison, Bolsonaro’s mounting popularity has been stunning. For the first time in more than a year, more Brazilians approve of his performance than disapprove. In the past two months, as the novel coronavirus gutted Brazil, his approval has risen from 32 to 37 percent, according to the polling service Datafolha. Disapproval has dropped from 44 percent to 34 percent.

 …continued .
[Source: Washington Post]