‘Trump of the Tropics’ takes office in Brazil

BRASILIA• Jair Bolsonaro, the new president of Brazil, promised to work closely with Donald Trump “under God’s protection” to bring prosperity to both countries as he was sworn in Tuesday.

The far-right nationalist, known as the “Trump of the Tropics,” vowed to crack down on corruption and violent crime in a long-awaited speech following his shock election in October.

The 63-year-old former army captain has pledged to tackle street crime by allowing citizens to arm themselves, and he believes police officers who kill suspects should be decorated rather than investigated.

“I will work tirelessly so that Brazil reaches its destiny,” said Bolsonaro, the latest populist to exploit anti-establishment fury. “My vow is to strengthen Brazil’s democracy.”

Crowds of supporters, many with the Brazilian flag draped around their shoulders and with faces painted yellow and green, the national colours, gathered before the Planalto palace, where Brazil’s new leader was presented with the presidential sash.

With Bolsonaro’s inauguration, Latin America’s two biggest economies are now in the hands of anti-establishment populists. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a leftist, took office in Mexico on Dec. 1. But while López Obrador won a reputation as a pragmatist while in a previous job as mayor of Mexico City, the new Brazilian leader appears more unpredictable.

Bolsonaro is a hugely controversial figure because of his track record for making racist and sexist comments and displaying nostalgia for the former military dictatorship. He has spoken of how he would punch a gay couple if he saw them kissing in public and has admitted he would “be incapable of loving a homosexual child.”

Bolsonaro is appealing a fine he received for telling a female politician during a heated row: “I wouldn’t rape you because you don’t deserve it.”

In a TV interview in 1999, he said he yearned for the days of the military dictatorship, which killed hundreds between 1964-85, adding: “I’m in favour of torture. You know that. And the people are too.”

The new president hopes to realign Brazilian diplomacy toward the interests of Trump, who sent Mike Pompeo, the U.S. secretary of state, to the inauguration ceremony. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also in attendance.

Trump congratulated Bolsonaro on his “great inauguration speech,” adding: “The U.S. is with you!”

Responding on social media, which he uses to sidestep the mainstream press, Bolsonaro said: “Dear Mr. President, I truly appreciate your words of encouragement. Together, under God’s protection, we shall bring prosperity and progress to our people!”

In a clear sign of a diplomatic shift, Bolsonaro plans to move the Brazilian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, breaking with his country’s traditional support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue.

On the campaign trail, Bolsonaro was transformed from a fringe eccentric into a populist firebrand.

At a rally in September he was stabbed in the stomach by a mentally ill man. He now has to wear a colostomy bag. One-third of his cabinet are former army officers, mostly fellow cadets at the Black Needles academy, Brazil’s equivalent of West Point, all outspoken backers of the former military regime.

He is hugely popular among conservative voters, in particular evangelical churches, because of his strong opposition to abortion and desire to remove sex education from schools.

His vow to emulate Trump by pulling Brazil out of the Paris Agreement on climate change has concerned environmentalists, along with plans for hydroelectric dams in the Amazon.

In his speech to lawmakers Tuesday, Bolsonaro promised to reduce bureaucratic regulations, promote a more free-market economic policy and protect police officers. He hinted that he would try to loosen gun laws, saying, “A good citizen deserves methods of defending himself.”