Far-right, Jair Bolsonaro takes oath as Brazil's new President

Sao Paulo(Brazil): Far-right congressman, Jair Bolsonaro has sworn in as 42th President of Brazil and took charge of the office on Tuesday.

Bolsonaro, a 63-year-old former army captain, was elected as the President, last year in October after defeating ex-Sao Paulo mayor and Workers Party (PT) candidate Fernando Haddad.

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He promised to build a "society without discrimination or division", to crack down on recession, a heightening sense of insecurity, and corruption scandals, which are among major factors rampant across the South American country.

After being sworn in in front of the Congress, Bolsonaro went on to the Planalto Palace where the outgoing President, Michel Temer, handed over the presidential sash.

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Speaking afterwards, he said Brazil would "start to free itself of socialism" and "political correctness".

Despite portraying himself as a political outsider during his campaign, Bolsonaro served seven terms in Brazil's lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, before being elected President.

He has been a member of several political parties but is currently in the Social Liberal Party.

Among the foreign guests at the inauguration were US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Bolsonaro won the presidential election by a wide margin against Fernando Haddad of the left-wing Workers' Party on October 28, 2018.

Moved by his inaugural speech, US President Donald Trump took to Twitter account to congratulate him saying US was "with" him.

"Congratulations to President. @JairBolsonaro who just made a great inauguration speech - the U.S.A.

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