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2 Bolsonaro Allies Elected to Leadership Roles in Brazilian Congress

VOA News

   A secondlawmakerendorsedbyBrazilian President JairBolsonarohas been
   elected to acritical leadershiprole in Congress,possiblybolstering
   hispolitical future amiddozens ofcalls for his resignation.

   Congressman Arthur Lira, an ally ofBolsonaro,was elected speaker of the
   lower house of Congress for two years on Monday.

   The chamber votedoverwhelminglyin favor ofLira, whose rivalpushedfor
   separationfrom the Bolsonaro administration.

   Earlier Monday,Brazil's Congress elected Rodrigo Pacheco as Senate
   speaker, anotherally ofthefar-rightleaderwho aims to
   improvebruisedrelations with legislators.

   Bolsonarohasfaced an uphill battleget legislation passed in
   Congress,while his popularityhasdeclinedover his handlingof the latest
   surge ofCovid-19in Brazil.

   Bolsonarohas longdownplayedthe pandemic even after he contracted the
   virusinJuly, attimes appearing in pubic without a protective face mask.

   So far, Brazil has confirmedmore than 9,204,000 coronavirusinfections
   and

   224,504 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University Covid
   Resource Center.

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