BRAZIL’S Workers’ Party (PT) is set to file papers for the impeachment of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro over his handling of the Covid-19 crisis, saying that he “no longer works with this government.”

The party said at the weekend that its executive had “decided to submit to the Chamber of Deputies a collective impeachment petition” which is believed to be backed by a range of organisations and individuals.

The move came following the resignation of Brazilian health minister Nelson Teich less than a month after he took office. 

He submitted his resignation on Friday morning via WhatsApp but did not explain the reasons for his decision.

He had previously been criticised by Mr Bolsonaro for urging caution over the relaxing of lockdown measures and reopening businesses.

In a press statement later that day, he said: “Life is made of choices, and today I chose to leave. I did the best I could in this period.

“It is not simple to be at the head of such a ministry at such a difficult time. I want to thank my team that has always worked intensively for this country.”

His announcement came as Brazil recorded more than 220,291 positive cases and around 14,962 deaths, becoming one of the most affected countries in the world.

Mr Bolsonaro sacked previous health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta in April following a clash over the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

PT president Gleisi Hoffmann confirmed the impeachment case would be brought this week, saying that Mr Bolsonaro “was incapable of responding to the crisis we are experiencing and has neither the conditions nor the administrative and human capacity to run the country.

“He fights with the whole world, and does not protect the Brazilian people.”