RIO DE JANEIRO—Covid-19 has killed more than 130,000 in Brazil, second only to the U.S., and hammered the economy. Still, the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro, who has lashed out at governors who ordered businesses to close and clashed with health experts over social-distancing measures, is more popular than ever. With millions of Brazilians unable to work, Mr. Bolsonaro has since March vowed to keep Latin America’s largest economy alive. The shift could augur well for Mr. Bolsonaro and his allies ahead of November municipal elections and the presidential vote in 2022. In a recent Datafolha poll, 37% percent of respondents approved of the Bolsonaro administration, the best numbers the president has logged in his 20 months in office.

Source: Wall Street Journal September 13, 2020 12:00 UTC