Jair Bolsonaro Fast Facts
Jair Bolsonaro is the President of Brazil, he was elected in the October 2018 election. He is a member of ‘Brazilian Conservative Party’ (PCdoB), and is the youngest leader of a major world nation.
Before entering politics, Jair Bolsonaro had been a businessman. He was a supporter of US President Donald Trump, and donated money to his campaign. He is also a libertarian.
Jair Bolsonaro is considered to be a politician without ethics and one who is not accountable to his constituents. He has been accused of tax evasion and corruption.
Jair Bolsonaro’s first big issue in his first term in office is the appointment and promotion of former drug trafficker, João Baptista Pinheiro de Andrade (JOA) as a minister of defense. In his first week in office, he fired the defense minister, General Joaquim Witzel, who was appointed by Jair Bolsonaro himself, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Holiday and General Luiz Fernando de Andrade who was minister of the interior under former president Nivaldo de Araújo.
Two days later he named General Luiz Fernando de Andrade to the same post. The same day, General Fernando Holiday was replaced by General Luiz Fernando de Andrade. General de Andrade is also a drug trafficker.
Bolsonaro’s first major issue in his first term in office is his nomination of former drug trafficker, João Baptista Pinheiro de Andrade (JOA) as a minister of defense. In his first week in office, he fired the defense minister, General Joaquim Witzel, who was appointed by Jair Bolsonaro himself, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Holiday and General Luiz Fernando de Andrade who was minister of the interior under former president Nivaldo de Araújo. This comes at the same time he fired two other senior military officers, General Antônio Carlos Góes and Major General Henrique Camara; both were also appointed by Bolsonaro himself.
Bolsonaro is also criticized for accepting campaign contributions from former president Lula da Silva’s son, Eduardo, who was then-president of