Ex-Army Captain sworn-in as Brazil President

A far-right former army captain has been sworn in as Brazil’s new president in the capital Brasilia.

Jair Bolsonaro, 63, won the presidential election by a wide margin against Fernando Haddad of the left-wing Workers’ Party on 28 October.

Mr Bolsonaro was propelled to victory by his campaign promises to curb Brazil’s rampant corruption and crime.

But he has proven a deeply divisive figure whose racist, homophobic and misogynistic remarks have angered many.

On a day filled with pageant, he travelled from Brasilia Cathedral to Congress in an open-top vintage Rolls Royce escorted by cavalry on white horses and jogging security guards, as crowds of supporters cheered.

“I came here just for the inauguration,” supporter Antonio Vendramin told AFP news agency.

“I made a lot of money and saved money to buy the ticket, to be able to buy the plane ticket because it’s a long way to come by car but we managed to make it all the way to be here on this day for President Bolsonaro’s inauguration. We’re full of pride.”Image captionGuards are on duty in ceremonial dress at the Congress for the inauguration

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is representing the US at the inauguration, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is there for Israel. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban is the only leader from the European Union due to attend.

Mr Bolsonaro has been scathing in his criticism of the left-wing governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and cancelled invitations to their leaders.

Despite portraying himself as a political outsider during his campaign, Mr Bolsonaro served seven terms in Brazil’s lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, before being elected president.Trump of the Tropics?

He has been a member of several political parties but is currently in the Social Liberal Party (PSL), which has grown from having a tiny presence in Congress to becoming the party with the second largest number of deputies in the lower house.Image captionFirefighters have been keeping Bolsonaro followers cool outside the presidential palace in Brasilia

Before becoming a politician, Mr Bolsonaro served in Brazil’s military, where he was a paratrooper and rose to the rank of captain.

During the election race in September, he was stabbed by a knifeman at a rally and seriously injured, taking more than a month to recover.

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