Jair Bolsonaro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jair Bolsonaro
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Bolsonaro in 2019
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| 38th President of Brazil | |
| In office 1 January 2019 – 1 January 2023 |
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| Vice President | Hamilton Mourão |
| Preceded by | Michel Temer |
| Succeeded by | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 1 February 1991 – 1 January 2019 |
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| Constituency | Rio de Janeiro |
| Councillor of Rio de Janeiro | |
| In office 1 January 1989 – 31 January 1991 |
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| Constituency | At-large |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 March 1955 Glicério, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Political party | PL (since 2021) |
| Other political affiliations |
See list
Independent (2019–2021)
PSL (2018–2019) PSC (2016–2018) PP (2005–2016) DEM (2005) PTB (2003–2005) PP (1995–2003) PPR (1993–1995) PP (1993) PDC (1988–1993) |
| Spouses |
Rogéria Nantes Braga
(m. 1978; div. 1997)Ana Cristina Valle
(m. 1997; div. 2007)Michelle de Paula
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 5, including Flávio, Carlos, and Eduardo |
| Alma mater | Military Academy of Agulhas Negras |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Brazil |
| Branch/service |  Brazilian Army |
| Years of service | 1973–1988 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands |
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Jair Messias Bolsonaro (born 21 March 1955) is a Brazilian politician and a retired military officer. He served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. Before becoming president, he was a member of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies from 1991 to 2019.
Bolsonaro joined the Brazilian Army in 1973 and finished his training at the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras in 1977. He became well-known in 1986 after writing an article for Veja magazine. In the article, he criticized the low pay for military officers. After this, he was arrested for fifteen days. He left the army and was elected to the Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro two years later. In 1990, Bolsonaro was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies, representing the state of Rio de Janeiro. During his 27 years as a congressman, he was known for his national conservatism.
In the 2018 Brazilian presidential election, Bolsonaro began to support economic policies that favored free markets. He won the first round on 7 October and then defeated Fernando Haddad in the runoff election on 28 October. As president, Bolsonaro focused on domestic issues like the economy and crime rates. He also changed rules for Indigenous groups in the Amazon rainforest and allowed more deforestation. His approach to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil was criticized because he seemed to downplay its seriousness.
In the 2022 Brazilian general election, Bolsonaro lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. On 8 January 2023, some of his supporters stormed government buildings, asking for a change in government. On 30 June, the Superior Electoral Court decided that Bolsonaro could not run for office until 2030. This decision was made because he tried to question the fairness of the election results and used his power improperly.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Jair Bolsonaro was born on 21 March 1955, in Glicério, São Paulo, in southeast Brazil. His parents were Percy Geraldo Bolsonaro and Olinda Bonturi. His family has roots mainly from Italy and some Germany. His great-grandfather came from Italy, and his German ancestry came from his father's side.
Bolsonaro moved around São Paulo a lot during his childhood with his family. They lived in different towns before settling in Eldorado in 1966. He grew up there with his five brothers. His first name, Jair, was chosen to honor Jair da Rosa Pinto, a famous football player.
Military Career and Public Attention
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In 1973, Bolsonaro joined the Escola Preparatória de Cadetes do Exército, a prep school for the Brazilian Army. He then went to the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras, Brazil's main military academy, and became an artillery officer in 1977. He served in different artillery groups in Brazil.
Bolsonaro first became known to the public in 1986 when he spoke to Veja magazine. He complained about low salaries for military members. He also said that military leaders were removing officers because of budget cuts, not for bad behavior. Even though his superiors were unhappy, other officers and military families supported him. He became popular among those who were unhappy with Brazil's new democratic government.
In October 1987, there were reports that Bolsonaro had plans to plant bombs in military places. He denied this, but a military investigation found him responsible. However, the Supreme Military Court later decided to clear him of these accusations. In December 1988, he left the Army to start his political career. He had served in the military for 15 years and reached the rank of captain.
Early Political Life
Serving Rio de Janeiro as a City Councilor
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Bolsonaro started his political journey in 1988. He was elected as a city councilor in Rio de Janeiro, representing the Christian Democratic Party. His son, Flávio, wrote that Bolsonaro became a councilor to avoid issues with some of his military superiors. He only served for two years in the Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro. During this time, he was described as quiet and focused on military issues, like retirement benefits for former officers.
Becoming a Federal Deputy for Rio de Janeiro
In 1990, Bolsonaro was elected as a federal deputy for the Christian Democratic Party. He served seven terms in a row, from 1991 to 2018. Over the years, he was part of several different political parties in Brazil. In 2014, he received the most votes of any congressman in Rio de Janeiro, with 465,000 votes.
He was mentioned in a list related to a corruption case involving a state-owned electricity company. He also received housing help for deputies, even though he had his own apartment in Brasilia. He later said this practice was "immoral."
During his 27 years in the Brazilian National Congress, he proposed one change to the constitution and at least 171 bills. Only two of these bills became law. Bolsonaro said that many congressmen do not vote based on the bill itself, but on who proposed it. In January 2018, Bolsonaro joined the Social Liberal Party (PSL). After he joined, the PSL became more conservative.
Presidential Campaign (2018)
On 22 July 2018, the PSL party chose Bolsonaro to run for president in the 2018 election. His campaign slogan was "Brazil above everything, God above everyone." His candidacy was officially approved on 6 August. In August, Bolsonaro announced that Antônio Hamilton Mourão, a retired army general, would be his running mate.
During the campaign, Bolsonaro changed his style to be less aggressive. On economic matters, he started to support less government involvement, which was different from his past views. However, he kept his strong stance on fighting crime and supporting "traditional family values." He also promised to lower taxes to help the economy grow and reduce unemployment. He said he would cut government spending and reduce bureaucracy. Bolsonaro's promises to improve safety and fight corruption gained him a lot of public support. He announced that liberal economist Paulo Guedes would be his finance minister.
Bolsonaro was the first presidential candidate in 2018 to raise over R$1 million in donations from the public. He gained an average of R$17,000 per day in the first 59 days. After another candidate was arrested, Bolsonaro became the leading candidate in opinion polls. A Datafolha poll in September showed him with 28% of the votes. Another poll just before election day showed his support had grown to 40%.
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The first round of the election was on 7 October 2018. Bolsonaro came in first with 46% of the votes. Since he did not win more than 50%, he went to a second round against Fernando Haddad on 28 October 2018. Bolsonaro won the runoff election with 55.13% of the votes and became the 38th president of Brazil. He started his term on 1 January 2019.
Personal Motto and Public Protests
Bolsonaro's personal motto, which he chose in 2016, comes from the Bible: "The truth will set you free."
After he left the hospital during his campaign, thousands of people protested against Bolsonaro in many Brazilian cities, chanting "Ele não" ("Not him"). There were also rallies supporting him in sixteen states.
Presidency (2019–2023)
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Bolsonaro officially became President of the Republic on 1 January 2019, taking over from Michel Temer. Before his inauguration, Bolsonaro started forming his team of ministers. He chose economist Paulo Guedes as his Economy minister and astronaut Marcos Pontes as his Science and Technology minister. His team initially had 15 members, but this number later grew to 22. His predecessor had 29 ministers.
Bolsonaro's first team included Operation Car Wash judge Sergio Moro as Justice minister. Many army officers were also given important roles. Bolsonaro had said he would choose people based on their skills, not their political views. However, some appointees later disagreed with his government and left their positions. By June 2020, several ministers and officials had resigned.
Early in his presidency, Bolsonaro focused on issues within Brazil, like tax reform and social security changes. He also changed the role of the indigenous affairs agency, FUNAI. He argued that indigenous lands had small populations who were controlled by non-profit groups. He wanted to integrate them into Brazilian society. Critics worried this would force Brazilian Amerindians to lose their culture.
Bolsonaro did not attend the second inauguration of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. He recognized Juan Guaidó as the rightful leader of Venezuela, along with leaders from Argentina and the US. He stated that Brazil would do everything to bring back order and freedom to Venezuela.
After his first year, Bolsonaro's popularity began to decline. A survey in May 2019 showed that more Brazilians disapproved of his government than approved. In November 2019, Bolsonaro left the Social Liberal Party due to disagreements with its leaders. He tried to create his own party, Alliance for Brazil, but it did not get enough support to be officially registered. This left Bolsonaro without a party until 2021.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, Bolsonaro and his government were criticized for downplaying the crisis. He claimed that COVID-19 was not much worse than "the flu" and focused on the economy. He often accused political opponents and the media of exaggerating the virus's threat. In August 2020, his approval ratings improved. In November 2020, he said he would not take a COVID vaccine, but later said he would support any vaccine approved by the Brazilian Health Agency.
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In early 2021, Bolsonaro's approval ratings dropped again, mainly because of his government's handling of the pandemic. By June 2021, many people called for his removal from office due to his response to the pandemic and for spreading incorrect information. They accused him of ignoring expert advice. In July 2021, a situation called "vaccine-gate" came up. It involved a deal to buy an unapproved vaccine at a very high price. This led to an investigation.
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In March 2021, Bolsonaro changed his Defense Minister. A day later, the leaders of the army, air force, and navy all resigned. In April, Bolsonaro said the Brazilian armed forces would "go into the streets" if he ordered them. In August, the military held a tank parade in Brasília, which was unusual. This happened as lawmakers were about to vote on Bolsonaro's proposed election changes, which were later rejected.
In July 2021, Bolsonaro appointed Ciro Noguiera as his chief of staff. Noguiera had been involved in a corruption case. In August 2021, Bolsonaro questioned the fairness of Brazil's electronic voting system. He warned of a possible "institutional rupture" and urged the Senate to take action against two Supreme Court judges. In October 2021, a Senate committee suggested that Bolsonaro should face charges for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Without a political party, Bolsonaro looked for a new one for the 2022 Brazilian general election. On 30 November 2021, Bolsonaro and his son joined the Liberal Party. This choice showed his alliance with the Centrão, a group of parties that often support different sides to gain political benefits.
The 2022 Presidential Election
In the runoff election on 30 October 2022, Bolsonaro was defeated by former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula received 50.9% of the votes. In a press conference on 1 November, Bolsonaro did not directly say he lost but stated he would "comply with the Constitution." He described his supporters' protests as "the fruit of indignation." The Supreme Court later said that by allowing the transfer of power, he had accepted the results. Bolsonaro left for the United States on 30 December to avoid attending Lula's swearing-in ceremony.
After the Presidency (2023–Present)
On 30 December 2022, Bolsonaro traveled to Florida, United States. On 8 January 2023, some of his supporters attacked government buildings in Brazil. President Lula blamed Bolsonaro for the events. Bolsonaro condemned the protesters in a tweet on 9 January and denied responsibility. Bolsonaro returned to Brazil in March 2023. He stated he came back to help his party and campaign for future elections. On 14 April 2023, a Supreme Court judge ordered Bolsonaro to be questioned by the Brazilian Federal Police about the attack on Congress.
Court Decisions and Future Elections
On 30 June 2023, the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court decided that Bolsonaro cannot run for public office until 2030. This was because he tried to question the fairness of Brazil's 2022 election and used his power improperly. This decision means he cannot run in municipal, state, or federal elections for the next eight years. Bolsonaro said he plans to appeal this decision.
On 31 October 2023, Bolsonaro was again found to have misused his power by the Superior Electoral Court. This was for using an official Brazil's Independence Day ceremony to promote himself as a candidate, which is against Brazilian law. His former defense minister, Walter Braga Netto, was also found to have misused his power and cannot run for office for eight years.
In February 2024, the Brazilian Federal Police took Bolsonaro's passport. This was part of an investigation into accusations that he and his allies tried to overturn the 2022 election results. In March 2024, documents showed that Bolsonaro had discussed plans to change the election results with military officials. Two military commanders testified that they warned Bolsonaro against any actions that would break the law. One commander said that if the army chief had agreed, a coup attempt might have happened.
In late March 2024, The New York Times showed security camera footage of Bolsonaro staying at the Hungarian embassy in Brasília for two nights. This happened after his passports were taken, and he was not allowed to leave Brazil due to the investigation. The Brazilian Supreme Court asked Bolsonaro to explain his stay, and the Federal Police started an investigation. This could be seen as an attempt to avoid legal action, as embassies are usually considered safe places.
Political Views and Stances
Bolsonaro's political views are often described as nationalist and populist. He is seen as supporting far-right policies. However, his supporters say his views are more aligned with traditional right-wing conservatism. His supporters are mainly adults over 34, from the working middle to upper class, especially in the southeast of Brazil. They are generally conservatives and college graduates. Bolsonaro is also popular among men and white voters.
Bolsonaro is seen as an anti-establishment politician who supports gun ownership. He is against most gun control laws, believing that law-abiding citizens should be able to defend themselves, especially in rural areas.
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Jair Bolsonaro is known for strongly opposing left-wing policies. He has spoken out against same-sex marriage, environmental rules, affirmative action (like racial quotas), and land reforms. He has also defended the Brazilian military regime, a past dictatorship. He supports the privatization of state-owned companies and free market policies.
In a 2017 interview, Bolsonaro said his views are similar to those of many people in the United States regarding gun ownership, gender issues, and trade. He wants to change some disarmament laws, improve public safety, and strengthen trade ties with the United States.
Bolsonaro openly admires former U.S. President Donald Trump. Many people saw similarities between their ideas and strong communication styles. Because of this, Bolsonaro has been called the "Trump of the Tropics."
Views on the Brazilian Military Regime
Throughout his career, Bolsonaro has often spoken positively about the Brazilian military regime, which ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985. He has called this period "glorious" and said that Brazil had "20 years of order and progress" under military rule.
He has also praised other past leaders in Latin America. In 1998, he spoke highly of the Chilean dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. In 2019, as president, Bolsonaro praised Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner.
When voting to remove President Dilma Rousseff from office, Bolsonaro honored Colonel Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, a figure from Brazil's military dictatorship. In a TV interview in the 1990s, Bolsonaro said that if he became president, he would consider closing the National Congress and starting a military takeover. However, by 2018, he said that any leader should come to power through voting. In March 2019, Bolsonaro stated that the 1964 event that removed President João Goulart was not a coup and should be celebrated.
Foreign Policy Goals
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During his 2018 campaign, Bolsonaro said he would change Brazil's foreign relations. He wanted Brazil to stop "praising dictators" and instead support democracies like the United States, Israel, and Italy. He said his trips to democratic countries showed who Brazil would partner with. Bolsonaro has shown some distrust towards China, but after becoming president, he changed his position. In October 2019, he said Brazil and China were "born to walk together."
Bolsonaro said his first international trip as president would be to Israel. He also said that the State of Palestine "is not a country," and Brazil should not have an embassy there. This was welcomed by Israel's prime minister but criticized by the Arab League. Bolsonaro said in Hebrew, "I love Israel."
Bolsonaro also praised U.S. President Donald Trump and his foreign policy. His son, Eduardo, suggested that Brazil should distance itself from Iran and the government in Venezuela. Bolsonaro is seen as very pro-American. During a rally in Miami in 2017, he saluted the American flag and led chants of "USA! USA!"
At a regional level, Bolsonaro praised Argentine President Mauricio Macri. He criticized the Mercosur trade group for focusing too much on political ideas instead of economic ones. Bolsonaro is strongly against communism and has criticized Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro.
Bolsonaro praised British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, saying he learned patriotism and respect for his country from him. Bolsonaro also said he was open to the idea of a U.S. military base in Brazil to counter Russian influence. In March 2019, he said discussions would begin for Brazil to become a NATO member.
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With U.S. support for Brazil to join the OECD in May 2019, Bolsonaro said all 36 members supported Brazil's entry. In October 2019, he announced that Chinese and Indian citizens would no longer need visas to enter Brazil. Brazil had already removed visa requirements for people from the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Australia.
Environment and Climate Change Views
Brazil has the world's largest tropical rainforest. Bolsonaro is a strong supporter of agribusiness and often favored economic growth over environmental protection. He was not happy with foreign pressure to protect the Amazon and warned international groups like the World Wildlife Fund that he would not accept their agendas in Brazil. He also opposed lands set aside for indigenous tribes. Bolsonaro's advisors said he planned to expand nuclear and hydroelectric power into the Amazon.
Bolsonaro does not agree with the scientific consensus on climate change. During his campaign, he often threatened to leave the Paris Agreement. Even before taking office, he withdrew Brazil's offer to host the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference. His Foreign Affairs Minister called global warming a "plot." Two departments in the Ministry of the Environment that dealt with climate change in Brazil and deforestation were also removed.
In April 2019, the American Museum of Natural History canceled an event honoring Bolsonaro after public criticism. Bolsonaro supported plans to open the Reserva Nacional do Cobre e Associados (Renca) Amazonian reserve for mining.
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Destruction of the Amazon rainforest increased by 88% in June 2019, during Bolsonaro's first year as president. This was reported by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Bolsonaro said the agency's data was false, and the INPE director was fired after disagreeing with him. Bolsonaro's government reduced efforts to fight illegal logging and mining in the Amazon.
Views on Religion and Women
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Bolsonaro is a member of the Catholic Church. His wife and one of his sons are Evangelical Christians. He was also baptized as an evangelical early in his campaign. In a 2017 speech, Bolsonaro said, "God above everything. There is no such thing as a secular state. The state is Christian." He later changed his view to support Brazil remaining a secular state, saying, "We are going to make a government for everyone, regardless of religion. Even for atheists."
In a 2015 interview, Bolsonaro suggested that men and women should not receive the same salaries because women get pregnant. He claimed this was based on statistical data.
Views on Elections
Bolsonaro has supported ideas that past elections had voter fraud, including claims that the 2018 presidential election was rigged against him. He also questioned the results of the 2020 United States presidential election. During his presidency, he often questioned the fairness of electronic voting and wanted paper ballots to be used in the 2022 election.
Bolsonaro said he would not accept the results of the 2022 election if certain changes were not made to the voting system. Most experts did not think a coup attempt was likely. In May 2022, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency warned Bolsonaro against further attacks on Brazil's election system.
Personal Life and Family
Bolsonaro has been married three times and has five children. His first wife was Rogéria Nantes Braga, with whom he has three sons: Flávio, Carlos, and Eduardo. His second marriage was to Ana Cristina Valle, and they have one son, Renan. In 2007, he married his third and current wife, Michelle de Paula Firmo Reinaldo, and they have a daughter, Laura.
While working in Congress, Bolsonaro hired Michelle as a secretary. Her salary increased significantly, but he had to fire her because the Supreme Federal Court ruled that hiring family members (nepotism) is illegal in public service. As of 2018, Bolsonaro and his wife lived in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. Bolsonaro has three granddaughters. He is Catholic.
Honours and Awards
National Honours
Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco (1 January 2019)
Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of Defence Merit (8 January 2019)
Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit (16 June 2019)
Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit (8 January 2019)
Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of Aeronautical Merit (3 January 2019)
Grand Collar of the Order of Labour Judicial Merit (13 August 2019)
Grand Cross of the Order of Military Judicial Merit (28 March 2019)
The Mauá Medal of Merit (15 August 2019)
The Peacemaker Medal (5 December 2018)
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Other Recognitions
- One of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2019 and 2020
- Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce's 2019 Person of the Year
- OCCRP's 2020 Person of the Year "for his role in promoting organized crime and corruption"
- On 25 October 2021, Bolsonaro was recognized as an honorary citizen by the city council of Anguillara Veneta, Italy, his paternal grandfather's hometown.
Electoral History
Presidential Elections
| Election | First round | Second round | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Position | Result | Votes | % | Position | Result | |
| 2018 | 49,276,990 | 46.0 | No. 1 | Run-off | 57,797,847 | 55.1 | No. 1 | Elected |
| 2022 | 51,072,345 | 43.20 | No. 2 | Run-off | 58,206,354 | 49.1 | No. 2 | Not elected |
Chamber of Deputies Elections
| Election | |||||
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| Party | Votes | % | Position in Rio de Janeiro State | Result | |
| 1990 | PDC | 67,041 | N/A | N/A | Elected |
| 1994 | PPR | 111,927 | 2.5 | No. 3 | Elected |
| 1998 | PPB | 102,893 | 1.4 | No. 10 | Elected |
| 2002 | PPB | 88,945 | 1.1 | No. 21 | Elected |
| 2006 | PP | 99,700 | 1.2 | No. 14 | Elected |
| 2010 | PP | 120,646 | 1.5 | No. 11 | Elected |
| 2014 | PP | 464,572 | 6.1 | No. 1 | Elected |
Images for kids
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Bolsonaro in 2019
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Signature of Jair Bolsonaro
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Jair (left) with his parents at the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras in 1979
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Bolsonaro in 1986
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Bolsonaro as Rio de Janeiro city councilor in March 1990. In October of the same year, he was elected Federal Deputy for the city.
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Bolsonaro supporters in London, 7 October 2018
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Bolsonaro is known for his finger-gun gesture, which he used during the presidential campaign.
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Michel Temer with Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle during the inauguration on 1 January 2019
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Bolsonaro in 2020
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Bolsonaro and Trump at the G20 meeting in 2019
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Bolsonaro and Orbán in Budapest, Hungary, in 2022
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Bolsonaro in 2023 visiting the state of Paraná.
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Bolsonaro was one of the key political figures in support of the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff and the 2015–16 protests against corruption, gaining much support from the public.
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Bolsonaro supported the European Union–Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, which would form one of the world's largest free trade areas.
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Bolsonaro and Charles, then Prince of Wales, in October 2019
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Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo hold up a Brazilian flag during a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1964 military coup d'état, 1 April 2014.
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Bolsonaro with United States President Donald Trump at the White House, 19 March 2019
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Bolsonaro with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 20 September 2021
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Bolsonaro with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2019
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Bolsonaro with Russian President Vladimir Putin in November 2019
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The deforestation rate in Brazil increased by 72% during Bolsonaro's time in office, showing that Amazon development was a key policy.
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Bolsonaro, French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman at the 2019 G20 Osaka summit
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Bolsonaro speaking to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019
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Bolsonaro with his two sons, Eduardo and Flávio, in the late 1980s
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Bolsonaro wearing several Brazilian orders, decorations and medals with white tie and the presidential sash during the enthronement ceremony of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, October 2019
As of November 2024[update], Bolsonaro has been formally accused by the Federal Police of multiple crimes related to the alleged coup.
As of November 2024[update], Bolsonaro has been formally accused by the Federal Police of multiple crimes related to the alleged coup.
See also
In Spanish: Jair Bolsonaro para niños
