Brazil's New President Takes Office on January 5, a Historic First

For the first time in 31 years, Brazil's newly elected president will be sworn in on January 5, not January 1, following a constitutional amendment approved in 2021. The change, based on a 2011 proposal, was justified by the difficulty of organizing the ceremony on the international holiday of January 1. The mandate calendar remains unchanged, giving authorities five extra days before taking office. Governors elected in 2026 will be sworn in on January 6, while legislators in the Senate, Chamber, and state assemblies will keep their February 1 inauguration date.