This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
Published on June 26, 2020, a Brasilia court ordered President Jair Bolsonaro to wear a mask in public, citing his repeated disregard for the rule.
The ruling, handed down by Judge Renato Borelli, came after a lawyer filed a complaint against the president for his "irresponsible behavior" in ignoring the mask mandate.
According to the judge, Bolsonaro has a constitutional obligation to follow the laws in force in the country, and his failure to do so could result in a 2,000-real ($365) fine.
However, the attorney general's office, which represents the government in legal matters, argued that the ruling was unnecessary, as face masks are already mandatory in Brasilia.
Despite this, Bolsonaro has since worn a mask at all public appearances, following the court's order.
Brasilia has had a mask mandate in place since April to curb the spread of the virus, but Bolsonaro has regularly broken social distancing measures, including giving handshakes and hugs at rallies, hosting barbecues, and going out for hotdogs without a mask.
