Carla Zambelli Salgado de Oliveira, born on July 3, 1980, is a Brazilian far-right activist and politician. Known for founding the "street movement", she was elected as a federal representative in São Paulo in 2018 and is known for her economic liberalism and social conservatism. However, her political career has been marred by multiple controversies, particularly over her behavior in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the May 30, 2020, "Brazil" program, Zambelli claimed that empty coffins were being buried in the state of Ceará to inflate COVID-19 death statistics. The statement caused widespread concern and dissatisfaction because the photos she referred to were later confirmed to have been taken in the state of São Paulo in 2017 and were part of an investigation into a life insurance fraud case.
The Ceará state government subsequently announced that it would take "appropriate judicial measures" to respond to Zambelli's accusations.
During the epidemic, Zambelli was open to drugs to treat the epidemic, especially hydroxychloroquine. On August 18, 2020, she announced through the news media that she was infected with COVID-19 and began treatment with hydroxychloroquine. Despite the drug's potential health risks, Zambelli has repeatedly praised the drug and credited first lady Michelle Bolsonaro's recovery with it.
Zampelli tweeted on August 26 that she was "100% recovered" and accused her initial COVID-19 test of being a false positive.
As the controversy raged, she quickly deleted her tweet about hydroxychloroquine, and in the following days, the relevant hospital denied that she was infected with COVID-19, sparking public attention and controversy.
In March 2022, Zambelli launched a website to provide resources for those who did not wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, citing an excerpt from Brazil's civil code that stated "No one may be forced to undergo medical treatment or Surgical intervention, risking her own life." This behavior intensified her public health controversy.
In addition to the epidemic controversy, Zambelli's actions and remarks have caused a lot of controversy among the public. For example, on the eve of the October 2022 election, she chased a reporter with a gun. This incident undoubtedly made her reputation even more precarious.
"Amid a series of controversies, Zambelli's actions had a significant impact on her political career."
Whether it’s her response to the COVID-19 epidemic or other controversial actions, Carla Zambelli’s political career has been closely linked to controversy. On social media and in public, she often faces alternating criticism and support, all of which hints at the complexity and volatility of the current political environment.
Faced with the ever-changing political situation and the impact of the epidemic, can Zambelli find a correct political position, or will he continue to fall into the whirlpool of controversy?