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) PFL (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 |
| Awards |      .png){kind=small}    |
| 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 former army 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 for 27 years.
Bolsonaro is known for his conservative political views. He has often made comments that caused a lot of debate and disagreement. His supporters praise him for his strong stance on crime and his focus on traditional values. His critics disagree with many of his ideas, especially on the environment and social issues.
During his time as president, he focused on changing Brazil's economy and laws. He also changed how Brazil worked with other countries. He lost the 2022 election and faced legal challenges after leaving office.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Jair Bolsonaro was born in Glicério, a town in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. His family has mostly Italian and German roots. He grew up with his five brothers in different towns in São Paulo.
In 1973, he joined a prep school for the Brazilian Army. He later went to the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras, which is Brazil's top military school. He graduated in 1977 as an artillery officer. He served in the army for 15 years and reached the rank of captain.
In 1986, he became known to the public after writing an article for a magazine. In the article, he complained that soldiers were not paid enough. After this, he decided to leave the army in 1988 to start a career in politics.
Political Career
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Bolsonaro's political career began in 1988 when he was elected as a city councilor in Rio de Janeiro. Two years later, in 1990, he was elected as a federal deputy to the Chamber of Deputies, which is part of Brazil's national government. He represented the state of Rio de Janeiro.
He was re-elected six times and served as a federal deputy for 27 years. During this time, he became known for his strong conservative views. He often spoke about military issues and his ideas for the country. Over the years, he was a member of several different political parties.
2018 Presidential Campaign
In 2018, Jair Bolsonaro decided to run for president of Brazil. His campaign slogan was "Brazil above everything, God above everyone." He promised to fight crime, reduce government spending, and support traditional family values. Many people supported his ideas to make Brazil safer and to stop corruption in politics.
During the campaign, Bolsonaro's views were very popular with some people but unpopular with others. This led to many protests, both for and against him.
Attack During Campaign
On September 6, 2018, while at a campaign rally, Bolsonaro was attacked and seriously injured. He had to have surgery and spent several weeks in the hospital. He could not campaign in person for the rest of the election but continued to communicate with his supporters online.
Election Victory
The election had two rounds. In the first round on October 7, Bolsonaro received the most votes but not enough to win. He then faced the second-place candidate, Fernando Haddad, in a final round on October 28. Bolsonaro won the election with over 55% of the vote and became the 38th president of Brazil.
Presidency (2019–2023)
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Jair Bolsonaro took office as president on January 1, 2019. In his government, he appointed many former army officers to important positions. He chose Paulo Guedes as his Economy Minister and Sergio Moro, a famous judge, as his Justice Minister.
Domestic Policies
Bolsonaro's government focused on Brazil's economy, which was slowly getting better after a difficult period. His government also passed new laws that made it easier for people to own guns.
One of his most debated policies was about the Amazon rainforest. His government reduced protections for the environment and for indigenous groups. This led to an increase in deforestation, which is the clearing of forests for farming and other activities. Many environmental groups and other countries criticized these changes.
COVID-19 Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Bolsonaro's response was widely criticized. He often downplayed the seriousness of the virus, comparing it to the flu. He disagreed with quarantine measures and other safety rules. Many people felt his government did not do enough to protect Brazilians from the virus.
2022 Election
Bolsonaro ran for re-election in 2022. He faced former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. After a close race, Lula won the election. Bolsonaro did not publicly admit defeat right away, but he allowed the transition of power to begin. He left Brazil for the United States just before Lula's inauguration.
After the Presidency
On January 8, 2023, a week after Bolsonaro left office, thousands of his supporters protested in Brasília, the capital. They entered the buildings of the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace.
After his presidency, Bolsonaro faced several legal challenges related to his actions while in office and during the 2022 election. In June 2023, a Brazilian court ruled that he could not run for public office until 2030. The court said this was because he had misused his power as president and made untrue claims about the voting system. In 2025, he faced a trial related to his actions after the 2022 election.
Ideas and Beliefs
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Jair Bolsonaro's political views are often described as nationalist and populist. This means he focuses on promoting his country's interests and traditions and often appeals directly to ordinary people.
- Security and Gun Rights: He is a strong supporter of law and order. He believes that police should be tougher on criminals and that law-abiding citizens should have the right to own guns for self-defense.
- Economy: He supports free-market policies, which means less government control over businesses. He also supported the privatization of some state-owned companies.
- Social Issues: Bolsonaro is known for his conservative views on social issues. He is a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage and has made controversial statements about women and minority groups.
- Military Government: He has often praised the military government that ruled Brazil from 1964 to 1985. He has called it a period of "order and progress."
- Foreign Policy: As president, Bolsonaro wanted to build closer relationships with countries like the United States and Israel. He was a strong admirer of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Personal Life
Bolsonaro has been married three times and has five children. Three of his sons, Flávio, Carlos, and Eduardo, are also politicians. His current wife is Michelle Bolsonaro, and they have one daughter together.
Bolsonaro is a member of the Catholic Church, while his wife is an Evangelical Christians. He often uses the motto "The truth will set you free", a quote from the Bible.
Images for kids
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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 is known for his finger-gun gesture, which he used during the presidential campaign.
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Bolsonaro in 2020
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Bolsonaro and Trump at the G20 meeting in 2019
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Jair Bolsonaro and Paulo Guedes in Brasilia, 2020
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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 and his son Eduardo hold up a Brazilian flag during a ceremony in 2014.
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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 during Bolsonaro's time in office.
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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 arguing with federal deputy Maria do Rosário in the Chamber of Deputies, 14 September 2016
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Bolsonaro wearing several Brazilian orders and the presidential sash in Japan, October 2019
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See also
In Spanish: Jair Bolsonaro para niños
