Jair Bolsonaro

Jair Bolsonaro, the controversial Brazilian politician and retired military officer, was born on March 21, 1955, in Glicério, São Paulo, Brazil. He comes from a family of Italian and German descent.

After the military coup in 1964, there was a campaign to eliminate opposition, which was often labeled as a communist or anti-institutional threat. The military intervention led to the repression of social movements and political changes initiated by the previous government.

In 1973, Jair Bolsonaro began serving in the Brazilian Army and later graduated from the Agulhas Negras Military Academy in 1977. His military career played a significant role in shaping his future political endeavors.

In January 1977, Jair Bolsonaro was admitted to the Escola Preparatória de Cadetes do Exército and graduated from the Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras as an Artillery officer.

In 1986, Jair Bolsonaro gained public attention after giving an interview to Veja magazine where he criticized low military salaries and accused the High Command of firing officers due to budgetary cuts. This interview marked his rise to publicity and made him a household name for hardliners and right-wingers disenchanted with Brazil's new civilian democratic government.

In 1987, Jair Bolsonaro completed the Artillery Advanced Course at the Officers Improvement School.

In December 1988, Jair Bolsonaro left the Army to begin his political career after serving for fifteen years and reaching the rank of Captain.

Two years after being elected to the Rio de Janeiro city council, Jair Bolsonaro won a seat representing Rio de Janeiro in Brazil’s federal Chamber of Deputies, a position he held for seven consecutive terms.

In the 1990 elections, Jair Bolsonaro was elected a federal deputy from the same party and served seven consecutive terms from 1991 to 2018.

In 1993, Bolsonaro made admiring comments about the U.S.–supported Brazilian military dictatorship, stating that it led to a more sustainable and prosperous Brazil. He has repeatedly expressed admiration for the military regime and other Latin American dictatorships, drawing controversy and criticism.

Bolsonaro publicly endorsed physical violence as a legitimate and necessary form of political action, making statements about killing people and arresting leftists.

In 2003, Jair Bolsonaro made an offensive statement to a congresswoman, suggesting that she was not worthy of being raped.

In July 2008, Bolsonaro made controversial remarks proposing birth control for poor people, suggesting that they might be too uneducated to understand family planning education.

In 2011, Bolsonaro made racist comments on a TV show when asked about his reaction if one of his sons had a Black girlfriend. He responded in a way that was described as racist and later claimed to be misunderstood.

Bolsonaro began to moderate his discourse on gay people by stating that he has nothing against gays and that he fights only the 'gay kit' in schools.

Bolsonaro was fined for making televised comments in 2011 stating that there was no risk of his family producing a homosexual child because of their 'good education'. The judge stated that he abused his right of free expression to commit a wrongful act.

On July 22, 2018, Jair Bolsonaro announced his candidacy for the presidency of Brazil.

Bolsonaro attended the first presidential debate of the year on 9 August 2018, organized by the TV network Rede Bandeirantes.

On 28 August 2018, Jair Bolsonaro gave an interview to Jornal Nacional, Brazil's best-rated prime time news program, at Rede Globo.

Brazil’s top electoral court bars Lula da Silva from running for reelection while he is in prison. This decision ultimately leads to the former mayor of São Paulo, Fernando Haddad, becoming the Workers’ Party candidate.

On 6 September 2018, Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed in the stomach while campaigning and interacting with supporters in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais.

On 29 September 2018, a month after the attack, Jair Bolsonaro was released from the hospital and returned to his home in Rio de Janeiro.

Bolsonaro made a statement about children and homosexuality, expressing his views on the influence of school and the happiness of homosexuals if he becomes president.

On 7 October 2018, Jair Bolsonaro came first in the first round of the presidential election and was declared the winner with over 50% of the popular vote in the run-off held on 28 October 2018.

Days before his election victory, Jair Bolsonaro announced DEM congressman Onyx Lorenzoni as the future Chief of Staff in his cabinet.

On October 25, 2018, Bolsonaro was presented with an honorary black belt by Robson Gracie despite never having trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

On October 28, 2018, Jair Bolsonaro emerged victorious in the runoff election with 55.13% of the votes, defeating Haddad who secured 44.87%.

Anti-graft judge Sérgio Moro accepted Jair Bolsonaro's invitation to serve as Justice minister, drawing international backlash due to his conviction of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro's chief political rival.

On 5th December 2018, Jair Bolsonaro was awarded The Peacemaker Medal.

A survey in December 2018 showed that a significant portion of the Brazilian population believed Bolsonaro was on the right path, indicating his initial popularity.

Jair Bolsonaro took office as the President of Brazil on 1 January 2019.

On January 15, 2019, an executive order was signed to temporarily eliminate a regulation restricting firearms purchases to individuals providing a justification. This regulation had given police the authority to approve or deny gun sales.

On January 28, 2019, officials announced that Jair Bolsonaro underwent a successful surgery to remove a colostomy bag, which was initially fitted after he was stabbed four months earlier.

On February 28, 2019, Bolsonaro met with Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president, Juan Guaidó in Brasilia. During a joint news conference, Bolsonaro pledged Brazil’s support to help ensure “democracy is re-established in Venezuela.”

On 28th March 2019, Jair Bolsonaro was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Military Judicial Merit.

On 1 May 2019, Bolsonaro awarded Olavo de Carvalho, a Brazilian conservative writer and far-right conspiracy theorist, the Order of Rio Branco honorific order. This act showcased Bolsonaro's admiration for Carvalho, despite occasional critical remarks made by Carvalho about Bolsonaro.

On May 3, 2019, a spokesman for Bolsonaro announced the cancellation of his trip to New York, where he was supposed to receive a Person of the Year award from the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce. The cancellation was due to political backlash, leading to the withdrawal of the original host venue, the American Museum of Natural History, and some corporate sponsors.

On May 7, 2019, President Bolsonaro signed an executive order that relaxed gun control restrictions, making it easier to import guns and increasing the annual ammunition purchase limit for individuals.

A survey published on 21 May 2019 showed a decline in Bolsonaro's popularity, with more Brazilians rejecting his administration than affirming it for the first time.

During a news conference on July 11, 2019, President Bolsonaro expressed his desire for his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, to serve as the ambassador to the United States, citing his friendly relationship with the children of US President Donald Trump.

On 15th August 2019, Jair Bolsonaro was honored with The Mauá Medal of Merit.

On August 23, 2019, Jair Bolsonaro announced a plan to deploy army troops to combat the devastating wildfires raging across the Amazon rainforest.

During the G7 summit in France, French President Emmanuel Macron announces a $20 million emergency fund to assist Brazil with the fires in the Amazon. This gesture is met with resistance from Brazilian President Bolsonaro, who rejects the idea of an 'alliance' of G7 countries intervening in the Amazon.

On September 8, 2019, Jair Bolsonaro underwent a hernia operation to address complications from previous surgeries while recovering from a stab wound.

On September 29, 2018, a month after the stabbing, Jair Bolsonaro was released from the hospital and returned home. His recovery prevented him from resuming his presidential campaign for the remainder of the first round of the election.

Economist Roberto Campos Neto was named as the future Central Bank governor under Jair Bolsonaro's administration.

On December 24, 2019, Jair Bolsonaro revealed to the Band TV network that he had been hospitalized overnight following a fall at the presidential palace on December 23. He mentioned experiencing brief memory loss but stated that he had fully recovered.

Roberto Alvim was fired from the position of Special Secretary for Culture after appearing to quote a speech by German Nazi politician Joseph Goebbels in a government-sanctioned video.

During his first state visit to India, Bolsonaro expressed Brazil's demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and emphasized the importance of Brazil and India joining forces as two major democratic countries with large economies and populations.

On March 7, 2020, Bolsonaro was hosted by the U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago for a working dinner, where the two leaders discussed various issues including the U.S.-led effort to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and a future trade deal.

On April 19, 2020, Jair Bolsonaro participated in a rally in the country's capital where protesters demanded an end to coronavirus quarantine measures and some advocated for military intervention to shut down Congress and the Supreme Court. Bolsonaro later clarified that he was not endorsing military action against the government's other branches.

Minister of Education Abraham Weintraub resigned from his position.

On June 23, 2020, a federal judge in Brasilia ordered Jair Bolsonaro to wear a face mask in public or face a fine. The ruling was extended to all government employees in the Federal District, including the capital Brasilia.

On July 7, 2020, Jair Bolsonaro announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, after dismissing the threat of the virus and actively participating in anti-lockdown rallies.

On December 17, 2020, Bolsonaro made controversial comments at a political event, suggesting that people taking the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine might experience bizarre side-effects. This added to the skepticism and controversy surrounding his handling of the pandemic.

Bolsonaro wrote a letter to President Joe Biden, expressing his commitment to strengthening ties between Brazil and the U.S. in various areas such as economy, environment, defense, and technology. Biden welcomed the opportunity for collaboration between the two countries.

A Brazilian court ordered Jair Bolsonaro to pay damages to a journalist due to remarks he made that questioned her credibility on March 16, 2021.

Bolsonaro discussed with President Vladimir Putin the potential creation of a consortium between Brazil and Russia for mass production of the COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in Brazilian territory, along with cooperation in trade, defense, science, and technology.

Brazil, represented by Bolsonaro, joined NASA's Artemis Space Program, demonstrating the country's commitment to collaborating with the United States and international partners for the exploration of deep space.

On July 14, 2021, Jair Bolsonaro was admitted to the hospital to investigate the cause of persistent hiccups that were causing abdominal pains. The admission was confirmed by Brazil’s Special Secretariat for Social Communication.

On 28 July 2021, Bolsonaro appointed Ciro Noguiera, a senator implicated in the Odebrecht corruption case, as his chief of staff.

In mid-August 2021, the Brazilian military conducted a ten-minute tank parade in Brasília, with Bolsonaro in attendance. The parade, which had not been held in the last 30 years, was announced only a day in advance and passed by the national congressional building.

On 25th October 2021, Jair Bolsonaro was recognized as an honorary citizen by the city council of Anguillara Veneta, Italy, his paternal grandfather's hometown, which caused reactions in Italy.

On 26 October 2021, a senate committee approved a report calling for Bolsonaro to face criminal charges, including crimes against humanity, for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 30 November 2021, Bolsonaro and his son Senator Flávio Bolsonaro joined the Liberal Party, representing the consolidation of the alliance of Bolsonaro with the Centrão, a large bloc of parties without consistent ideological orientation.

On December 3, 2021, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered an investigation into Jair Bolsonaro’s false claim that vaccinated individuals may have a higher risk of contracting AIDS. The inquiry was initiated in response to a request by the country’s parliamentary commission, which has been examining Bolsonaro’s government’s handling of the pandemic.

On January 3, 2022, Jair Bolsonaro was admitted to a hospital due to a blockage in his intestine.

On January 13, 2022, the Human Rights Watch criticized the Bolsonaro administration for promoting anti-human rights policies, urging Brazil's democratic institutions to protect voting and speech rights.

On 23 June 2022, Bolsonaro defended his former Minister of Education, Milton Ribeiro, after the latter was arrested on corruption charges.

On June 29, 2022, a Brazilian court ruled that Jair Bolsonaro must pay moral damages to a Brazilian journalist for making remarks with sexual innuendo about her in 2020.

Protesters clashed with police and vandalized the Supreme Federal Court building and the Palácio do Planalto (Presidential Palace) in Brasília. The rioters attempted to take over both buildings, resulting in vandalism, looting, and confrontations with security forces.

On September 25, 2022, Jair Bolsonaro was the main story on the Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

In the presidential election on October 2, 2022, Jair Bolsonaro finishes with 43.2% versus Lula da Silva’s 48.4%. As neither candidate surpassed 50% of the vote, a runoff between the two candidates is scheduled for October 30.

In a runoff presidential election on 30 October 2022, Bolsonaro was defeated by former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro did not acknowledge his defeat but stated that he would 'comply with the Constitution'.

Jair Bolsonaro arrives for a press conference two days after being defeated by Lula da Silva in the presidential runoff at Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil.

On November 22, 2022, Jair Bolsonaro filed a petition with Brazil election authorities contesting the results of the presidential vote, claiming that voting machines had malfunctioned and the votes cast through them should be annulled.

The petition filed by Jair Bolsonaro on November 22, 2022, contesting the election results was rejected by the Brazil election authorities the following day.

One day before his term ended, Bolsonaro arrived in Florida and resided in Kissimmee for a couple of months.

Jair Bolsonaro's presidency ended on December 31, 2022, with the inauguration of the cabinet of Lula da Silva III on January 1, 2023.

More than 100 buses arrived in Brasília from various parts of Brazil, bringing radical Bolsonaro supporters to join the protesters camped in front of Army Headquarters, raising the total number of people to over 4,000.

Defence Minister José Múcio visited the camp and claimed that the situation was 'calm, for now'. Federal District governor Ibaneis Rocha sent a message to Justice Minister Flávio Dino, stating that there was no immediate threat to the security of the federal buildings. However, by 12:00, the Institutional Security Bureau had requested reinforcements at the Presidential Palace, and the police forces of the Congress and Supreme Court were placed on alert against possible attack.

Three transmission towers in the states of Rondônia and Paraná were pulled down and cut off from Brazil's power grid. One tower connecting Brazil's mega hydropower plant Itaipu to the country's grid was damaged by a tractor, raising suspicions of sabotage by Bolsonaro supporters. An additional tower in the interior of São Paulo state was also damaged.

Multiple important spaces in three stormed buildings, including the Federal Supreme Court and the Congress building, were extensively vandalized and looted. Works of art, furniture, equipment, and historical objects were damaged, stolen, or destroyed. Rioters also destroyed fire hydrants and impeded the fight against fires that broke out during the invasion.

Brazil's Supreme Court accepts the public prosecutor's request to investigate Jair Bolsonaro's alleged involvement in the January 8 attacks on government buildings in Brasilia.

Jair Bolsonaro, facing multiple investigations in Brazil, is seeking a six-month US tourist visa to extend his stay in Florida.

Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, who is under investigation for an alleged attempt to topple the country’s government, has applied for a six-month visitor visa to stay in the US.

Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president, is set to return to Brazil, which is expected to energize the far-right political spectrum. His return comes amidst several investigations, including an embezzlement probe over jewelry.

Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered Bolsonaro to submit himself for questioning with the Federal Police over the storming of the Congress.

Former president Bolsonaro's residence was searched in an investigation into the alleged falsification of immunization records, adding to his legal challenges.

The weakening of environmental and Indigenous ministries in Brazil marks a setback for President Lula da Silva’s push to protect Indigenous rights and stem Amazon deforestation.

Bolsonaro's aide, Mauro Cid, is accused of gathering documents to support a coup against Brazil’s President Lula.

Jair Bolsonaro, the former right-wing president, is facing accusations of spreading false claims about Brazil’s election system, leading to an uncertain political future.

The Brazilian electoral court found former President Jair Bolsonaro guilty of abuse of power and voted to bar him from holding office until 2030.

Investigation into the forces threatening Brazil’s democratic institutions and the Lula government’s agenda.

Following the loosening of gun purchase restrictions and encouragement of firearm ownership during Jair Bolsonaro's presidency, Brazil is now planning to rein in gun ownership.

In August 2023, Brazilian hacker Walter Delgatti Neto testifies before Brazil’s Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI), revealing that President Bolsonaro had asked him about hacking voting machines and offered to pardon him for any legal repercussions.

An investigation over expensive foreign gifts damaged the political legacy of hard-right former president Jair Bolsonaro, adding to his legal troubles.

Brazil commenced trials of rioters who attempted a coup by storming centers of power, signaling a strong stance against the insurrection.

Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced the first defendant, Aécio Lúcio Costa Pereira, to 17 years on charges including armed association and an attempted coup related to the riot.

Bolsonaro and Walter Braga Netto were convicted by the Superior Electoral Court over abuse of power for using official Brazil's Independence Day ceremony to promote themselves as candidates, resulting in disqualification from running for any office for the next eight years.

The country remained deeply divided a year after rightwingers attacked government buildings, leading to a war of words between former presidents Lula and Bolsonaro.

On February 8, 2024, Brazilian Federal Police announced the arrest of four individuals and execution of 33 search warrants in connection with an alleged attempted coup to maintain Jair Bolsonaro in power as president. Fabio Wajngarten, a lawyer representing Bolsonaro, confirmed Bolsonaro's involvement in the investigation.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and his allies were revealed to have a detailed scheme to prevent his successor from taking office, leading to accusations of a coup plot.

On February 25, 2024, Jair Bolsonaro led a protest rally in São Paulo, where he denied allegations of being involved in a coup plot to stay in power after losing the 2022 presidential election.

Police seized the passport of Jair Bolsonaro and arrested several of his allies in an investigation related to a coup attempt.

A concise overview of key information about Jair Bolsonaro, the current President of Brazil, including his background, political career, and major policies.