Bolsonaro's supporters celebrate election victory

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01:42

There were no surprises, as predicted by polls, Jair Bolsonaro became the first military figure to be elected president since Brazil's military regime ended 33 years ago. Throughout the country, his supporters celebrated the ex-army captain's victory. It was the culmination of one of the most bitterly disputed campaigns in history.

"I think something great is going to come out of this. Impunity has to end. Corruption has to end,” said Joao Sallay, a law student who was celebrating outside Bolsonaro's home in Rio's Barra da Tijuca neighborhood.

In his acceptance speech, the man dubbed the “Tropical Trump” sounded like the US president he admires. “And now, together, let's turn this country, a free, democratic and prosperous nation”

Bolsonaro won Sunday's election with 55 percent of the vote compared to the 45 percent of his rival Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party.

Jair Bolsonaro, far-right lawmaker and presidential candidate of the Social Liberal Party (PSL), and his wife Michelle pose as they arrive to cast their votes, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,‍ October 28, 2018. /VCG Photo

In his concession speech, Haddad spoke directly to Bolsonaro's recent threats to expel or jail members of the Workers' Party. “First we made it to the second round and then we received 45 million votes. This expression of the will of the Brazilian people needs to be respected,” he said.

Fear and anxiety were visibly evident among Haddad supporters as they watched the news of Haddad's defeat. "We have to fight to make sure none of the crazy things the other candidate promised come true," said Marcos Riechelmann, one of his many supporters.

Bolsonaro blames the Worker's Party, which was in power 14 years, for the country's economic crisis, corruption scandals and soaring crime rates. And while short on specifics, he has promised radical solutions.

Some analysts fear this election poses a threat to Brazil's young democracy, especially since the newly elected president has repeatedly said nothing can be accomplished through Congress and has spoken openly in the past in favor of murdering political opponents.

"This will be the test to see if a president who has authoritarian tendencies and is from the extreme right-wing can withstand the temptation to change the rules of the game," said Paulo Baia, a sociologist at Rio de Janeiro Estate University.

Bolsonaro is hardly known outside of Brazil but some world leaders congratulated him for his victory, including China, the country's biggest trading partner.

“We are willing to continue to work with Brazil to raise the comprehensive strategic partnership between both countries to a higher level,” said Lu Kang, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson.

Bolsonaro will take office on January 1, 2019, and will need to face several challenges. Among his tasks, a political reform to reduce the number of parties in congress, now with more than 30. Also, reactivate the economy that is expected to grow just 1.5 percent this year and deal with a strong opposition from human rights groups, indigenous people and Worker's Party supporters.

But after his victory, President-elect Bolsonaro promised to unite the country and defend the constitution.