Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro has won Brazil’s general election.
Bolsonaro based his campaign on promises to end corruption, crime and communism and won 55.1% of the votes.
Fernando Haddad, who represented the left-wing Workers’ Party won 44.8% of votes.
After losing the vote, Haddad told supporters not to lose hope. He said: “We will continue with our heads held high, with determination and with courage, We have a lifelong commitment to this country and we will not allow this country to go backwards.”
Brazil has been governed by the left-wing Workers’ Party for 13 years between 2003 and 2016, with the most recent election resulting in a significant swing to the right.
Bolsonaro is a former paratrooper has gained to the nickname “Trump of the Tropics” following certain comments on abortion, race, migration and homosexuality.
US president’s spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, said in a statement of the news: “President Trump called President-elect Bolsonaro of Brazil this evening to congratulate him and the Brazilian people on today’s elections. Both expressed a strong commitment to work side by side to improve the lives of the people of the United States and Brazil, and as regional leaders of the Americas.”
Like his American counterpart, Bolsonaro has also suggested that Brazil could pull out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.
Amnesty International has said that his presidency is likely to pose a “huge risk” to Brazil’s indigenous peoples, LGBT communities, activists and civil society organisations, black youth and women.
The new President has also spoken about his plans to relax gun laws in Brazil. He said earlier this month: “Every honest citizen, man or woman if they want to have a weapon in their homes – depending on certain criteria – should be able to have one.”
He will begin leading the country on 1 January 2019.
