To preserve Constitution, unite society Bolsonaro’s priorities
Brazil’s president-elect Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) used his official Facebook page—followed by over 8 million users—to broadcast his first address after winning the elections.
He spoke for nearly eight minutes next to his wife Michelle Bolsonaro and a Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) interpreter. The footage was made in his own home. On the table were copies of the Bible, the Constitution, and a book on British ex-Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who led the United Kingdom during the Second World War.
In the video, Bolsonaro said he draws inspiration from Churchill and his military and political strategy of bringing the British people together during the Second World War, and added he will work for the pacification of Brazil. “We will bring peace to Brazil, and build a great nation under the Constitution and the law.”
Described by progressive groups as a leader with an authoritarian discourse, Bolsonaro denied this inclination through retired general Augusto Heleno, also present during the live broadcast and the likely choice to take the helm of the Ministry of Defense. The military man said democracy was never under threat. Calling the president-elect a fascist, he argues, is part of a “campaign” he rated as “sordid” and unfounded.
Change
On foreign policy, the president-elect has reiterated that the Ministry of Foreign Relations must be at the service of the values and interests of the Brazilian people—with no particular, mandatory bias. During his campaign, he paid compliments to US President Donald Trump, who congratulated him on Sunday (28) over the phone. “Brazil will no longer be separate from developed nations,” Bolsonaro stated. Without mentioning any names, he said he wants to bolster regional integration “with all Latin-American brothers who are free from a dictatorship.”
Without referring to his challenger Fernando Haddad, of the Workers’ Party, Bolsonaro said the country had been crying out for change, and criticized the left, vowing to keep his administration free from politically motivated appointments. “We can no longer flirt with socialism, communism, and the extreme views of the left. […] What I want the most next year is—following the teachings of God, aligning myself with the Constitution, and drawing inspiration from great world leaders and authoritative advisers—to start building a government that’s capable of bringing Brazil to the spotlight,” he declared.
