The far-right former Army captain Jair Bolsonaro has been sworn in as Brazil’s president, promising to fulfil his campaign commitments to tackle rampant corruption and crime.

His populist rhetoric may have driven him to the presidency, but Mr Bolsonaro is a deeply divisive figure whose racist, homophobic and misogynistic remarks have angered many in the country. Indeed, he has faced charges of inciting rape and for hate crimes in the past.

A fan of US president Donald Trump, the 63-year-old longtime congressman rose from a ridiculed figure to power on an anti-corruption and pro-gun agenda. He has energised conservatives and far-right supporters after four consecutive presidential election wins by the left-leaning Workers’ Party.

“I will work tirelessly so that Brazil reaches its destiny,” Mr Bolsonaro said.

The US was represented by vice president Mike Pence, with Mr Bolsonaro making clear that he wants to work closely with Mr Trump’s administration. He has already followed Mr Trump by pledging to move Brazil’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and Brazil has also withdrawn an offer to host UN climate talks later this year.

ndeed, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of a number of nationalist leaders, including Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, to attend the ceremony. 

As for Mr Trump, he tweeted his congratulations to Mr Bolsonaro and said the US stood with him.

Like the US president, Mr Bolsonaro has left environmentalists concerned by plans to build hydroelectric dams in the Amazon and open up to mining the reservations.

Source: The Independent 

BDST: 1121 HRS, JAN 2, 2019
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