Bolsonaro administration

Bolsonaro administration
Name	Jair Bolsonaro presidency
Caption	President Jair Bolsonaro at Planalto Palace, 2019
Incumbentsince	1 January 2019
Predecessor	Michel Temer
Successor	Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Party	Social Liberal Party (2018–2019), Alliance for Brazil (2019–2021), Liberal Party (2021–)
Vice president	Hamilton Mourão

Bolsonaro administration The administration of Jair Bolsonaro (2019–2022) presided over policy shifts affecting institutions such as the Supreme Federal Court (Brazil), the Federal Police (Brazil), and the Ministry of Health (Brazil), while interacting with domestic actors including Workers' Party opponents and supporters among the Brazilian Armed Forces. Its tenure coincided with international events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, regional dynamics involving Latin America leaders, and global debates on climate change and Amazon rainforest governance.

Background and Election

Bolsonaro, a former captain in the Brazilian Army and long-serving deputy in the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil), rose to prominence after campaigning on security themes alongside figures like Sergio Moro and parties including the Social Liberal Party, winning the 2018 runoff against Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party (Brazil). The 2018 campaign followed the 2016 impeachment of Dilma Rousseff and the corruption investigations by Operation Car Wash involving the Brazilian Development Bank and the Car Wash trials, contributing to political realignment with endorsements from personalities such as Olavo de Carvalho and conservative media outlets. Electoral dynamics involved alliances with state-level politicians from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and the Northeast Region of Brazil coalitions.

Domestic Policy

Domestic policy emphasized public security reforms promoted in cooperation with ministries led by appointees like Sergio Moro (until 2020) and military-origin ministers from the Brazilian Army, including shifts in appointments to the Federal Police (Brazil) and the National Congress of Brazil liaison. Criminal justice measures referenced precedents from the Anti-Crime Package debates and drew criticism from human rights advocates represented by organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Institutional tensions occurred between the presidency and the Supreme Federal Court (Brazil) over issues adjudicated by justices such as Luiz Fux and Rosa Weber, while relations with governors from states like Amazonas and São Paulo affected implementation of federal directives.

Economic Policy

Economic policy prioritized market-oriented reforms under ministers such as Paulo Guedes, referencing proposals akin to pension reform debated with the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) and tax reform discussion in the Federal Senate (Brazil). The administration pursued privatizations influenced by advisors from financial centers including São Paulo and engaged with institutions such as the Central Bank of Brazil on inflation targets and the IBGE on growth measurements. Trade and investment outreach involved meetings with leaders from the United States, China, and members of the Mercosur trade bloc, while fiscal adjustments were judged against benchmarks set by credit rating agencies and multilateral lenders like the International Monetary Fund.

Environmental and Indigenous Affairs

Environmental policy saw shifts in administration of agencies such as the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the National Indian Foundation (FUNAI), with decisions affecting the Amazon rainforest, the Cerrado, and protected areas including national parks administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. Actions and rhetoric influenced deforestation trends monitored by groups like INPE and sparked responses from indigenous organizations such as the Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira (COIAB) and international actors including the European Union and United Nations envoys. Conflicts arose over land claims involving indigenous territories recognized under the Brazilian Constitution and disputes with agribusiness stakeholders represented by the Confederação da Agricultura e Pecuária do Brasil.

Foreign Policy

Foreign policy balanced outreach to leaders such as Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and regional counterparts including Mauricio Macri and later Alberto Fernández, while managing Brazil's roles in multilateral forums like the United Nations General Assembly, the G20, and BRICS. The administration took diplomatic positions on issues from the Venezuela crisis to mediation efforts in Middle East tensions, and reoriented trade diplomacy toward export promotion agencies and bilateral investment negotiations. Tensions with the European Union arose over environmental conditionality tied to trade agreements, and relations with the United States evolved through high-level contacts at the White House and engagement between ministries of defense and foreign affairs.

Controversies and Legal Issues

The presidency faced controversies involving public statements by Bolsonaro and allies, investigations by the Supreme Federal Court (Brazil) and the Federal Supreme Court, inquiries into pandemic response scrutinized by congressional committees such as the Covid-19 Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI), and probes linked to campaign financing examined by the Electoral Justice (Brazil). Legal challenges included disputes over presidential decrees reviewed by courts presided over by justices including Alexandre de Moraes, allegations tied to the conduct of security forces during protests, and international scrutiny from entities such as the International Criminal Court and human rights bodies. Post-election episodes involved interactions with electoral authorities like the Superior Electoral Court (Brazil) and responses from civil society organizations including Amnesty International and national bar associations.

Category:Presidencies of Brazil