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Wednesday, January 02, 2019, 14:01
Bolsonaro sworn in as Brazil's president, pledges to restore order
By Xinhua
Wednesday, January 02, 2019, 14:01 By Xinhua

Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro, right, flanked by his wife Michelle Bolsonaro, waves to the crowd from the Planalto Presidential palace, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan 1, 2019. (SILVIA IZQUIERDO / AP)

RIO DE JANEIRO — Army captain-turned-politician Jair Bolsonaro took office as Brazil's 38th president on Tuesday, promising to "restore order" and reduce the state's role in the economy.

Jair Bolsonaro has always taken a pro-gun stance and said last week that he will relax gun laws to allow anyone without a police record to own a gun

The new president was sworn in at a ceremony in Brasilia amid the highest security ever for a presidential inauguration in the largest and most populous nation in Latin America. 

Bolsonaro was stabbed and severely injured during the campaign, undergoing surgery, with more surgical intervention planned. Since then, security around him has been significantly increased. 

Anti-aircraft laser-guided missiles were mobilized and thousands of officers were involved in the security effort. 

The inauguration crowd, which the government estimated to some 115,000 people, was not allowed to get too close to the presidential palace. 

Protocol calls for the Brazilian president to make two speeches, one in Congress and one to the people. In his speech to lawmakers, Bolsonaro said he was determined to fight corruption, crime and "ideological submission." 

ALSO READ: Brazil's Bolsonaro to be sworn in amid tight security

"I want to take this opportunity to call on each congress member to help me in the mission to restore and rebuild our nation, freeing it from corruption, crime ... and ideological submission," he said. 

Flanked by first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro waves to the crowd as he rides in an open car after his swearing-in ceremony, in Brasilia, Brazil, Jan 1, 2019. (SILVIA IZQUIERDO / AP)

"The government will not spend more than it takes in," he added. 

In his speech to the general public, he highlighted his concerns about crime, for which he received applause. 

Bolsonaro has always taken a pro-gun stance and said last week that he will relax gun laws to allow anyone without a police record to own a gun. 

"Our concern is the safety of good citizens, and the guarantee of property and self-defense. Our commitment is to value and support the work of all security forces," he said. 

First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro also addressed the people, delivering her speech in sign language. 

Biography of Jair Bolsonaro. (GRAPHIC / AFP)

The first lady, who is involved in a campaign to promote the inclusion of people with hearing disabilities, said deaf people will not be forgotten by her husband's administration. 

READ MORE: No embassy move announced as Bolsonaro hosts Netanyahu

Several foreign leaders attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, including Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the presidents of Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Honduras.  

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