Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil's newly inaugurated President Jair Bolsonaro said on Dec. 1 his election had freed the country from "socialism and political correctness," and he vowed to tackle corruption, crime and economic mismanagement in Latin America's largest nation.

Former army captain Jair Bolsonaro was elected president of Brazil on Sunday, promising a fundamental change in direction for the giant Latin American country, the latest to take a turn to the far-right, reports AFP. 

In some of his first words to the nation as president-elect, far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro promised to defend the constitution and unite a bitterly divided populace.

A deeply polarized Brazil stood at a political crossroads on Oct. 8 as the bruising first round of the presidential election left voters with a stark choice in the run-off between far-right firebrand Jair Bolsonaro and leftist Fernando Haddad.

Brazil's right-wing presidential frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed and seriously injured while campaigning Thursday, with police saying the suspect claimed to be acting on orders from God.

Environmentalist Marina Silva and right wing politician Jair Bolsonaro would be leading candidates in Brazil's presidential election if jailed former President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva is unable to run, according to an opinion poll on April 15.