Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro has won Brazil's presidential election. But who is he?

Far-right politician Jair Bolsonaro has won a sweeping victory in Brazil's presidential election.

The former army captain won 55.2% of the vote against 44.8% for Fernando Haddad of the left-wing Workers' Party.

Mr Bolsonaro's pledge to fight crime and corruption following a string of scandals have won him mass support.

However critics are worried by his praise of Brazil's former dictatorship, and by his comments on race, women and homosexuality.

In one infamous incident in 2015 he told a fellow lawmaker she was too ugly to rape.

Mr Bolsonaro's controversial comments, his pro-gun stance and his populist approach to politics have led to some media dubbing him "Trump of the Tropics".

President Trump himself took to Twitter on Monday to praise the Brazilian president-elect.

For his supporters, Mr Bolsonaro is a politician who they say will bring much needed change to the country - a swing to the right after four elections won by the left.

For the past four years, Brazil has been consumed by a criminal investigation - known as Operation Car Wash - that has uncovered massive corruption.

Dozens of business and political leaders have been jailed. Among them was former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was barred from standing in the election.

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How did the result break down?

Sorry, your browser cannot display this content. Presidential Election Results % valid votes, excluding blank and invalid votes Click on the states for more detailed results BOLSONAROHADDAD

Who is Bolsonaro and what is he likely to do in office?

The 63-year-old leads the Social Liberal Party (PSL), an anti-establishment group that combines social conservatism and pro-market policies.

Mr Bolsonaro is a deeply polarising figure who has had a divisive effect on Brazilians with both supporters and opponents taking to the streets to make their voices heard.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Rival supporters argue after Brazil poll result

He has in the past defended the killing of opponents to the country's former military regime and said he is "in favour of dictatorship".

But after the results came in, he told supporters he would be a "defender of democracy" and uphold the constitution.

One of his flagship policies is to restore security by relaxing gun laws and suggested that "every honest citizens" should be able to own a gun.

He has promised to reduce state intervention in the economy and indicated that Brazil could pull out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

He takes over on 1 January 2019.

Messy future

Analysis by BBC's Katy Watson in Sao Paulo

Image copyright EPA

Is there a chance Mr Bolsonaro could soften his stance, now he's won power? Few experts believe it. You only need to look to another firebrand in the continent for guidance.

"The things that Donald Trump outlined and the signals that he gave during the campaign he carried through with," says Kyle Pope of the Columbia Journalism Review, who has studied parallels between Brazil's new president and the leader of the US.

Many say a comparison with Mr Trump is inaccurate. Instead, they say Mr Bolsonaro is more akin to Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.

Whatever the comparison, what is clear is that country's sharp swing to the right will resonate beyond Brazil as another populist takes power.

And the opposition will redouble efforts not to take away the gains that country's made since it returned to democracy 30 years ago.

The future looks messy for Brazil.

Does Mr Bolsonaro have backing in Congress?

Yes and no.

On the one hand, his PSL party achieved a remarkable breakthrough in this month's legislative election, increasing its representation from one to 52 seats in the lower house.

However Mr Haddad's PT remains the largest party, with 56 seats.

But most ominously for Mr Bolsonaro, there will be a record 30 parties represented in the next Congress.

This suggest that finding backing for legislation could be difficult for the new president.

What about reaction from outside Brazil?

A number of Latin American leaders congratulated Mr Bolsonaro:

Argentine President Mauricio Macri described the poll results as Mr Bolsonaro's "triumph"

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera congratulated Brazilians for a "clean and democratic election"

Colombia's Ivan Duque welcomed the result and called for the two countries' "brotherly relations" to be strengthened further

Mexican outgoing President President Enrique Peña Nieto hailed Brazil's "democratic strength"

Peru's Martin Vizcarra wished Mr Bolsonaro "full success"

Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro extended his "congratulations to the people of Brazil"

Amnesty International said that taking into account his campaign pledges, Mr Bolsonaro's victory could pose a "huge risk" to Brazil's indigenous peoples, LGBT communities, black youth, women, activists and civil society organisations. </s> Brazil presidential candidates have failed to avoid runoff, IBOPE exit polls revealed with Jair Bolsonaro and Fernando Haddad reaching the vote.

Jair Bolsonaro, a candidate for Brazil’s presidency came on top in Sunday’s vote and will face off with his rival Fernando Haddad in the runoff, exit polls and preliminary official results show.

With 53.93 percent of ballots counted, Bolsonaro was leading in the race with 49.02 percent of the vote. Fernando Haddad of the Workers’ Party was second with 26.09 percent, the electoral committee said.

After 86 percent of ballots counted Bolsonaro remained in the lead with 47.6 percent of the vote Haddad, of the Workers’ Party, fell behind with 27.24 percent of the vote.An exit poll by Ibope suggested Bolsonaro would come first with 45 percent of the vote, followed by Haddad with 28 percent. A candidate needs more than 50 percent of votes to avoid a runoff on October 28.

Previously, the data of the Datafolha pollster revealed that Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro extended his lead over rivals as potential support for him in the election had increased from 32 percent to 35 percent since the beginning of the week.

Candidate Fernando Haddad was expected to be supported by 22 percent of the voters. The poll was held on Wednesday and Thursday among more than 10,000 people in 389 Brazilian municipalities.

READ MORE: Brazil’s Presidential Front-Runner Says Can’t Partake in Debates After Stabbing

The first round of the Brazilian presidential vote was scheduled to take place alongside the parliamentary election on Sunday. The second round is set to be held on October 28. </s> Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has stated that his sentiment for US President Donald Trump is growing more intense, the website Brazil 247 reported.

"After that compliment from Trump yesterday, I'm more and more in love with him", he said after Trump's speech about US-Brazilian relations.

The US president earlier expressed hope of reaching a free trade agreement with Brazil and complimented Bolsonaro, noting that Brazil is already a "big trading partner" for the United States. Trump, however, complained that the country has imposed "a lot of tariffs" on US goods.

Bolsonaro previously stated that he was considering appointing his son, lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, as Brazilian ambassador to the United States.

In June, Bolsonaro said that he supported Trump's 2020 re-election bid during a meeting between the two at the G20 summit in the Japanese city of Osaka. </s> SAO PAULO (AP) - President-elect Jair Bolsonaro reiterated Thursday that he plans to move Brazil's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, joining the United States and Guatemala.

In a tweet Thursday, Bolsonaro said: "As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is a sovereign state and we shall duly respect that."

It was the first time since being elected Sunday that Bolsonaro referred to his plan to move the embassy.

In Israel, Netanyahu issued a statement praising Bolsonaro. "I congratulate my friend Brazilian President-Elect, Jair Bolsonaro, for his intention to move the Brazilian Embassy to Jerusalem, a historic, correct and exciting step!"

Netanyahu spoke to Bolsonaro earlier this week, congratulating him on his victory and inviting him to visit Israel.

Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro waves at supporters as he arrives to watch an aerial performance by the private pilots' group "Esquadrilha do Ceu" or "Sky Squadron", at Barra beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. Bolsonaro appeared in public Tuesday for the first time as president-elect. He visited a church led by ultraconservative pastor Silas Malafaia and spoke briefly to the faithful on stage. "I am sure that I am not the most capable, but God capacitates the chosen ones," he said. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

If Bolsonaro follows through on his pledge, Brazil would become the third country to have an embassy in Jerusalem, after the U.S. and Guatemala. Paraguay briefly moved its embassy to Jerusalem as well, only to move it back to Tel Aviv after its new president, Mario Abdo Benitez, was elected.

The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as the capital of a future state. Israel claims all of the city, including the eastern sector, home to Jerusalem's most important religious sites, as its eternal capital.

Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv, saying the final status of Jerusalem must be determined through negotiations.

Some Brazilians have raised concerns about the idea, saying it would hurt Brazil's relations with Muslim nations.

Former Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. Rubens Barbosa has warned that such a move could hurt Brazil's poultry exports. He says that Brazil "would be throwing away $6 billion per year in poultry sales to Arab countries." </s> Brazil will move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the country's incoming far-right president has announced.

The move will make Brazil the most prominent country after the United States to declare Jerusalem as Israel's capital, after Donald Trump moved the U.S. embassy earlier this year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the plan, which Bolsonaro had promised during the election campaign.

Netanyahu, who has called Bolsonaro his 'friend' and invited him to visit Israel, called it a 'historic, correct and exciting step'.

A polarising judge who jailed former President Luiz Inacio de Silva - knocking 'Lula' out of this year's election - has been named Brazil's new justice minister. Sergio Moro is wildly popular among conservatives and loathed by many on the left. After meeting Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro he promised to 'implement a strong agenda of anti-corruption and anti-organized crime'. As a judge he was at the centre of the sprawling 'Car Wash' investigation, one of the largest corruption probes in history. The investigation uncovered the large-scale looting of state oil company Petrobras. But many on the left felt the probe which brought down ex-President Lula was politically motivated. Polls suggested Lula would have beaten Bolsonaro in the election had the ex-president not been jailed 12 years for corruption.

In a tweet yesterday Bolsonaro said: 'As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.

'Israel is a sovereign state and we shall duly respect that.'

It was the first time since his election victory on Sunday that Bolsonaro referred to his plan to move the embassy.

Netanyahu issued a statement saying: 'I congratulate my friend Brazilian President-Elect, Jair Bolsonaro, for his intention to move the Brazilian Embassy to Jerusalem, a historic, correct and exciting step!'

If Bolsonaro follows through on his pledge, Brazil would become the third country to have an embassy in Jerusalem, after the U.S. and Guatemala.

Trump broke with decades of precedent in December when he declared Jerusalem Israel's capital and announced the embassy would move there.

Palestinian leaders cut off contact with Trump's White House following the declaration.

Paraguay briefly moved its embassy to Jerusalem only to move it back to Tel Aviv after its new president, Mario Abdo Benitez, was elected.

The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, as the capital of a future state.

Israel claims all of the city, including the eastern sector, home to Jerusalem's most important religious sites, as its eternal capital.

Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv, saying the final status of Jerusalem must be determined through negotiations.

Some Brazilians have raised concerns about the idea, saying it would hurt Brazil's relations with Muslim nations.

Former Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. Rubens Barbosa has warned that such a move could hurt Brazil's poultry exports.

Brazil 'would be throwing away $6 billion per year in poultry sales to Arab countries' by making the move, he said.

Bolsonaro has outraged many with his derogatory comments against women, gay people and blacks, and his support for the torture used by Brazil's brutal military regime which ruled from 1964 to 1985. </s> President-elect Jair Bolsonaro said Thursday that he plans to move Brazil’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, joining the United States and Guatemala.

In a tweet Thursday, Bolsonaro said: “As previously stated during our campaign, we intend to transfer the Brazilian Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel is a sovereign state and we shall duly respect that.”

It was the first time since being elected Sunday that Bolsonaro referred to his plan to move the embassy.

In Israel, Netanyahu issued a statement praising Bolsonaro. “I congratulate my friend Brazilian President-Elect, Jair Bolsonaro, for his intention to move the Brazilian Embassy to Jerusalem, a historic, correct and exciting step!”

Netanyahu spoke to Bolsonaro earlier this week, congratulating him on his victory and inviting him to visit Israel.

If Bolsonaro follows through on his pledge, Brazil would become the third country to have an embassy in Jerusalem, after the US and Guatemala. Paraguay briefly moved its embassy to Jerusalem as well, only to move it back to Tel Aviv after its new president, Mario Abdo Benitez, was elected.

The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as the capital of a future state. Israel claims all of the city, including the eastern sector, home to Jerusalem’s most important religious sites, as its eternal capital.

Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv, saying the final status of Jerusalem must be determined through negotiations.

Some Brazilians have raised concerns about the idea, saying it would hurt Brazil’s relations with Muslim nations.

Former Brazilian Ambassador to the US Rubens Barbosa has warned that such a move could hurt Brazil’s poultry exports. He says that Brazil “would be throwing away US$6 billion per year in poultry sales to Arab countries.” </s> It was the first time since being elected on Sunday that Bolsonaro had referred to his plan to move the embassy. President-elect Jair Bolsonaro has pledged to follow the US in moving Brazil's Israel embassy to Jerusalem. In Israel, Netanyahu issued a statement praising Bolsonaro. "I congratulate my friend Brazilian President-Elect, Jair Bolsonaro, for his intention to move the Brazilian Embassy to Jerusalem, a historic, correct and exciting step!" Netanyahu spoke to Bolsonaro earlier this week, congratulating him on his victory and inviting him to visit Israel. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison raised the possibility of making a similar move in the run-up to the Wentworth by-election.

If Bolsonaro follows through on his pledge, Brazil would become the third country to have an embassy in Jerusalem, after the US and Guatemala. Paraguay briefly moved its embassy to Jerusalem as well, only to move it back to Tel Aviv after its new president, Mario Abdo Benitez, was elected. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mid-east war, as the capital of a future state. Israel claims all of the city, including the eastern sector, home to Jerusalem's most important religious sites, as its eternal capital. Most countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv, saying the final status of Jerusalem must be determined through negotiations. Some Brazilians have raised concerns about the idea, saying it would hurt Brazil's relations with Muslim nations.

A former Brazilian Ambassador to the US, Rubens Barbosa, has warned that such a move could hurt Brazil's poultry exports. He says that Brazil "would be throwing away $US6 billion per year in poultry sales to Arab countries". </s> US President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro the full support of the United States as Brazil continues to battle wildfires in the Amazon rainforest

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th August, 2019) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday offered Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro the full support of the United States as Brazil continues to battle wildfires in the Amazon rainforest.

"I have gotten to know President [Jair Bolsonaro] well in our dealings with Brazil," Trump said in a statement posted on Twitter. "He is working very hard on the Amazon fires and in all respects doing a great job for the people of Brazil - Not easy. He and his country have the full and complete support of the USA!"

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the Group of Seven industrialized countries will urgently allocate about 20 million euro [$22.

2 million] to help extinguish the fires.

The Amazon rainforest, which produces about 20 percent of the Earth atmosphere's oxygen, is burning from wildfires at a record rate and has drawn international attention.

Environmental activists have been staging protests at Brazilian embassies worldwide and accusing Bolsonaro of supporting farmers who are burning the rainforest to expand farming land.

On Saturday, the Brazilian authorities deployed troops in an attempt to fight the fires. </s> • Far-right Brazilian politician Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed in the stomach during a campaign rally.
• Footage from the event shows the candidate sitting on a supporters' shoulders and waving to the crowd when a man suddenly plunges a knife into his abdomen.
• His son tweeted that the candidate arrived at the hospital "almost dead" but his condition had stabilized.
• Bolsonaro is known for his controversial and outspoken views, and garnered comparisons to President Donald Trump.
• Brazil's campaign season has already been wrought with controversy as the country gears up for the October 7 elections.

Far-right Brazilian politician Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed in the stomach during a campaign rally on Thursday as the nation gears up for what will likely be a divisive election.

Footage from the event shows the candidate sitting on a supporters' shoulders and waving to the crowd when a man suddenly plunges a knife into his abdomen. Bolsonaro was visibly in pain and was whisked away by his supporters into a car.

The suspected stabber was swiftly jumped and beaten by the crowd of supporters attending the rally. 40-year-old Adelio Bispo de Oliveira has been identified by police as a suspect. His motive remains unclear.

Bolsonaro's son confirmed the attack on Twitter and initially said the wounds were "superficial," though he later wrote that his father's condition is "more serious than expected."

He added that the knife perforated Bolsonaro's organs, and that he had arrived at the hospital "almost dead." Bolsonaro underwent surgery and his condition appears to have stabilized.

The 63-year-old is known for his nationalistic policies and controversial views against homosexuality, refugees, and minorities. He is widely considered to be the front-runner for the upcoming October elections, and his outspoken political approach and larger-than-life persona has garnered comparisons to President Donald Trump.

Bolsonaro has faced backlash for his statements in the past.

In 2015, he told Brazilian newspaper Zero Hora that men and women should not receive the same salaries as men because women get pregnant. He was also ordered to pay fellow congresswoman Maria do Rosario $2,500 for saying that she was "not worth raping" because "she is very ugly."

Brazil's presidential election has already been wrought with controversy. Two candidates on opposite sides of the political spectrum have been charged with corruption, and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had began a strong reelection campaign despite being sentenced to 12 years in prison for money laundering and corruption. The Supreme Court barred his candidacy last week, though he has vowed to appeal the decision.
Sources from the Brazilian government reveal that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro suggested U.S. President Donald Trump visit Argentina in order to back the re-election of President Mauricio Macri.