Analyzing Jair Bolsonaro’s first speech as president-elect

On Sunday, Brazilians elected Jair Messias Bolsonaro president for the next four years, giving him 55.13 percent of valid votes. After the win, he addressed the nation three times, from his home in Rio de Janeiro. First, via Facebook Live; then, he spoke live to television networks; and then, Facebook Live once more.

Flanked by his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, and a sign language interpreter, in the first live broadcast Mr. Bolsonaro placed four books on the table: the 1988 Constitution, the Bible, Winston Churchill’s “Memoirs of the Second World War,” and a book by ultra-right guru Olavo de Carvalho called, freely translated, “The minimum you need to know not to be an idiot.” During the second broadcast, he talked with the supporters gathered in front of his apartment building.

When Mr. Bolsonaro talked to the television networks, he adopted a more institutional tone – of sorts – reading a printed speech. But before speaking, he and his allies prayed.

Here are the main highlights of Mr. Bolsonaro’s first address to the nation (or to his Facebook followers) as president-elect.

Talking about democracy

“You are my witnesses that this government will defend the Constitution, democracy, and freedom”

Ever since he started rising in the polls, pundits and journalists (The Brazilian Report included) have warned about the risks that Mr. Bolsonaro represents for Brazilian democracy. His running mate talked about...