On January 1st, at 4:50 PM, the newly elected president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, ascended the ramp of the Palácio do Planalto to receive the presidential sash from his predecessor, Michel Temer. He then proceeded to the Parlatório, where he delivered his official speech to the nation.
In his speech, Bolsonaro promised to reduce the size of the State, decrease government bureaucracy, and uphold the Constitution. He highlighted the technical expertise of his 22 ministers and stated
that he had formed a government without collusion or behind-the-scenes deals, advocating for the fight against corruption and prioritizing the interests of Brazilians. “Our flag will never be red,” he said.
A total of 46 foreign delegations attended the ceremonies. There were 11 heads of State and Government, three vice presidents, 11 chancellors, 18 special envoys, and three directors of international organizations.
Foreign officials present at the inauguration included Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Viktor Orbán of Hungary; U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; and Presidents Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (Portugal), Sebastián Piñera (Chile), Mario Abdo Benítez (Paraguay), Tabaré Vázquez (Uruguay), and Evo Morales (Bolivia).


