Political Parties in Brazil

Brazil has many political parties in its country. They have what is called a multi-system party. This means that it is impossible for a lone party to achieve power by itself. In Brazil, politics vary greatly according to regions. The states of the Northeast and North are very reliant on political compassion from Brazil while the Southern and Southeastern states are not. Brazil is a federal republic with 26 states and a federal district.

The 1988 constitution allows the federal government to hold great power. The federal government is composed of executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president holds office for 4 years, with the right to re-election for an additional 4-year term. The President also appoints his/her own cabinet. Fifteen political parties are represented in Congress. The larger political parties include: Workers Party (PT-center-left), Liberal Front Party (PFL-right), Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB-center), Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB-center-left), Progressive Party (PP-right), Brazilian Labor Party (PTB-center-right), Party (PL-center-right), Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB-left), Popular Socialist Party (PPS-left), Democratic Labor Party (PDT-left), and Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB-left)

Political History in Brazil

The first political groups in Brazil surfaced quickly after Brazil became independent. These parties were either pro-Brazilian or pro-Portuguese. The conservative and liberal parties rotated in power throughout the time period between 1831-89 (called the second empire). Because of this, a developing Republican Party began in 1870. Between 1889-1930 (called the Old Republic), parts of the Republican Party had political power amongst the bigger states of Brazil. Between 1934 and 1935 there was a short introduction of representative politics.

During the 1950s and early 60s, various political parties formed and entered elections. In spite of this, not many of these parties were successful in gaining power or status. Because of poor results in the elections of October 1965, President Castelo Branco (the head of the military government of the time) declared the end of the multiparty system. Because of this action, only two parties were allowed to continue; The National Renewal Alliance and the Brazilian Democratic Movement.

Brazil moved towards a democratic government in 1980 by permitting the abolished political parties to return, the current parties to divide (if they so choose), and new parties to shape.

The Four Dominate Parties Today

Today there are 27 registered political parties in Brazil. In spite of this, there are only four dominant political parties. A political party has to register with the Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (Higher Electoral Tribunal) in order to be legally acknowledged. Since there is no election threshold in Brazil, the Workers’ Party (PT), the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) and the Democrats (DEM) collectively rule the majority of seats in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Ever since democracy reentered Brazil in 1985, these parties have successfully dominated Brazilian politics. Minor political parties tend to make alliance with one (or more) of these four main parties. These smaller parties have just a couple of representatives.