Brazil: Pres. Jair Bolsonaro in Hot Water Over Purchase of Viagra Pills, Penile Implants for Brazilian Army

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has been scrutinized after revelations that the country's defense ministry had approved the purchase of penile implants and Viagra pills, which cost the government millions.

According to The Guardian, the Brazilian Army had acquired more than 35,000 Viagra pills in what one leading opposition political called an "erectile outrage."

Leftist congresswoman Vivi Reis tweeted that they will not allow Bolsonaro to turn Brazil "into an orgy." Reis posted the tweet after disclosures caused online indignation and "smirks."

The Brazilian Army maintained that the procurement is above board, with the navy and air force claiming that they used Viagra to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension," or a type of high blood pressure.

The army further noted that it only bought three silicone penile implants instead of more than 60 reported by the local media.

In a statement, the Brazilian Army said the army healthcare system is assigned to treat male patients for various ailments that might require surgery for the implantation of such prostheses, adding that it catered to some 700,000 patients.

Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro Defends Purchase of Viagra Pills

Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed the news of the Brazilian Army's recent purchase of Viagra pills, saying that it was probably around 50,000 pills.

With all due respect, that's nothing... Obviously, that's mostly for retirees and inactive service members," said the Brazilian president, as France 24 reported.

Bolsonaro also said the military would use the drug to treat high blood pressure and rheumatism, as Brazil's Defense Ministry explained.

He then blamed the media for getting the news "out of proportion." Bolsonaro said they take "abuse every day from a press" that acts in "very bad faith" and "is ignorant" on the issue.

Brazilian Army's Viagra Order Draws Backlash

Lawmaker Elias Vaz said people must understand why the Bolsonaro administration is spending public funds on procuring such large quantities of Viagra, The Guardian reported.

A report in the O Globo newspaper implied that the dosages that had been bought were generally used to treat penises, not blood pressure.

Brazilian singer Zelia Duncan was among those who questioned the move. She asked her Twitter followers how they felt knowing that the public was even paying for Viagra for the Brazilian Army. One Twitter user replied, "I feel impotent."

The president of the Worker's Party, Gleisi Hoffman, has criticized the "criminal spending spree," accusing Bolsonaro of ruining the military's credibility.

Ciro Gomes, a center-left politician, said unless the department can prove that they were developing "some kind of secret weapon," it will be difficult to explain the purchase of 35,000 units of an erectile dysfunction drug.

Gomes added that the armed forces deserved respect. However, their acquisition department seemed determined to "demoralize the military."

Jair Bolsonaro is a former army captain and paratrooper who has filled his cabinet with military men. He repeatedly hinted that he would be ready to lead a military "intervention" against Brazil's democratic institutions.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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