El marc polític de Brasil

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023) - the president is both Chief of State and Head of Government

Next Election Dates

Presidential: October 2026
Federal Senate (for two-thirds of Senate seats) and Chamber of Deputies: October 2026

Current Political Context

After approving a landmark tax reform in 2023 to merge five taxes into a single consumption levy with federal and regional rates, Lula’s government focused in 2024 on implementing the reform. Key steps included setting tax rates and forming a committee to manage state and municipal tax shares. However, income tax reform, aimed at reducing inequality, was postponed to 2025 due to the shortened parliamentary year caused by the October 2024 municipal elections. A budget adjustment package announced in November 2024 included this reform.
To pass reforms, the government must secure centrist support, often requiring policy compromises. In late 2024, the Supreme Court invalidated some parliamentary amendments for lack of transparency, complicating progress on the economic agenda. Despite a weak Workers’ Party (PT) performance in the municipal elections, Lula remains popular thanks to his solid base.
The next general elections are set for October 2026. Bolsonaro, barred from running until 2030 for undermining Brazil’s voting system, has pledged to regain power.
On the external front, Brazil maintained pragmatic ties with Argentina despite ideological differences with Javier Milei’s government. Relations with Venezuela soured after Brazil rejected its July 2024 presidential election results and opposed its BRICS membership during the October summit. Lula backed the creation of a BRICS alternative currency for trade. Additionally, after 25 years of negotiations, Mercosur and the EU announced a free trade agreement in December 2024, reducing export tariffs between the two blocs.

Main Political Parties

About two dozen political parties are represented in the Brazilian National Congress. Parties typically group to form coalition governments. However, politicians often change parties, which has led to weak party discipline.

The main parties by number of seats in Congress are:

- Social Liberal Party (PSL): far-right, conservative, nationalist, militarist, liberal, anti-communism, anti-feminism, anti-LGBTQI+, populist.
- The Worker's Party (PT): centre-left, social democratic. Party with the highest number of elected representatives throughout the country since 2003.
- The Liberal Party (PL): formerly known as the Party of the Republic (PR). Centre-right to right, liberal, conservative, Christian democracy.
- The Progressive Party (PP): right-wing, nationalist, conservative.
- Social Democratic Party (PSD): big-tent party, centrist, liberal, Christian democracy.
- The Democratic Movement Party (MDB): big-tent party, centrist, liberal, conservative.
- The Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB): centre, social-democratic, liberal, conservative.
- The Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB): centre-left to left-wing, social-democratic, economic nationalism, state interventionism.
- Republicans: right-wing, conservative, Christian democracy.
- Democratic Labour Party (PDT): centre-left, social-democratic, labourism.
- Solidarity (SDD): left-wing, social-democratic, labourism.
- Podemos (PODE): centre-right to right, nationalist, populist.
- Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL): left-wing to far-left, social-democratic, anti-capitalist, environmentalist.
- Forward (Avante): centre, Third Way, populism.
- New Party (NOVO): centre-right to right-wing, liberalism.
- Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB): left-wing, Communism, Marxism–Leninism.
- Citizenship (PSDB-Cidadania): centre to centre-left, social liberalism, Third Way.
- Patriot (Patriota): right-wing to far-right, social conservatism, economic liberalism, militarism. In 2023, it merged with the Brazilian Labour Party to form the The Democratic Renewal Party (PRD)
- Green Party (PV): centre to centre-left, social-democratic, environmentalist, green politics.
- Sustainability Network (REDE): centre to centre-left, green politics, progressivism, environmentalism.
- The Brazil Union (União Brasil): liberal-conservative, formed through the merger of the Democrats (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL).

In the latest election, the Brazil of Hope Federation (FE Brasil), an electoral and parliamentary group formed by the Workers' Party (PT), Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) and Green Party (PV), obtained the majority of the seats.

Executive Power

The President is both Head of State and Government. He or she holds executive power and appoints the Council of Ministers. The President and Vice-president are elected by universal suffrage for a four year term, with the possibility of re-election for a second successive term.

Legislative Power

The legislative power is bicameral. The National Congress is made up of two houses: the Senate (upper house) and the Chamber of Deputies (lower house). The Senate is comprised of 81 members (three members for each of the 26 states and the Federal District of Brasília), each elected on a majority basis for eight-year terms, with one-third and two-thirds of the membership elected alternatively every four years. The Chamber of Deputies is comprised of 513 members, with seats allocated according to proportional representation, elected every four years for a four-year term. There are also legislatures and administrations at the state level in each of Brazil’s 26 states and in the Federal District.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

111/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Free

Political Freedom:

2/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House