On January 1st, at 4.50 p.m., the newly elected President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro climbed the ramp of the Planalto Palace to receive the presidential track from his predecessor, Michel Temer. He then went to the Parlatorium, where he delivered his official address to the nation.
In the speech, Bolsonaro promised to reduce the size of the State, reduce government bureaucracy and comply with the Constitution. He stressed the technical capacity of his 22 cabinet chiefs and said
he had set up a government without collusion or backroom deals, defending the fight against corruption and prioritizing the interest of Brazilians. “Our flag will never be red,” he said.
In total, 46 foreign delegations attended the ceremonies. There were 11 Heads of State and Government, three Vice Presidents, 11 Foreign Ministers, 18 special envoys and three directors of international organizations.
Foreign officials in attendance at the inauguration include Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu of Isreal and Viktor Orbán of Hungary; United States 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).