Brazil elections likely to increase number of left and right lawmakers

In addition to seeing the re-election of a high number of representatives, the October elections in Brazil should bring to the nation’s lower house a number of old-timers in Brazilian politics—among them state deputies, senators, former ministers, mayors and congress members. New faces will stem chiefly from the election of police agents, evangelicals, and celebrities, or as a result of money and ties of kinship within political oligarchies.

The estimates were made by the Inter-Union Department for Parliamentary Advisory (DIAP), and were based on the strategy of political parties to strengthen the Chamber of Deputies with competitive names. In order to bolster coalitions in the lower house, which define how much goes into the funds of political parties and how much air time is given for their campaigns, the political parties appointed their main names in the Senate. For instance, Aécio Neves (PSDB), José Agripino Maia (DEM), Gleisi Hoffmann, national president of the PT, and Lídice da Mata (PSB) will compete for a seat as federal deputy and are likely to amass more votes for their parties.

A plenary session at the Brazilian Senate – Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom / Agência Brasil

According to a preliminary survey, coordinated by political analyst Antônio Augusto de Queiroz, director with Diap, the composition of the lower house should not change considerably. Left- and right-leaning parties will increase, and a slight reduction in the number of names in the center will be observed.

Also according to the forecast, the PT will have the largest number of representatives—55 to 65 federal deputies—followed by the MDB (44 to 50), the PSDB (42 to 50), the PP (40 to 48), and the PSD (40 to 48). In a second group come the PR, DEM, PSB, PDT, and the PRB, with 20 to 40 deputies. The PSL, PTB, Pros, PSC, PPS, PCdoB, Pode, PSOL, and the SD will probably elect ten to 20 representatives. Other parties are not likely to see more than ten deputies elected.