Brazil General Elections: an overview of the 2019 National Congress

November 16, 2018

The 2018 General elections brought the largest change to the Brazilian Congress in 20 years, with many traditional parties and politicians losing ground to a new composition of congressmen. The results showed a clear growth of right-wing actors in Congress, generally in favor of economic liberalism, rather than nationalistic and anti-IP agendas. Indeed, the Liberal Social Party (PSL) had the biggest growth in seats at the Congress.

VARIATION IN THE NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE NATIONAL CONGRESS BY PARTY

President-elected Jair Bolsonaro has already gathered the informal support from multi-partisan Congress caucuses (evangelical, rural and security), and his base thus has the potential of reaching 300 votes. Though a more conservative Congress tends to back the policies of a right-wing rather than leftist president, Bolsonaro’s ability to reach agreements with Congress is unpredictable.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives had a change of 52.4% in its composition, the biggest change in 20 years. The party fragmentation remains high, with 30 parties represented in the House. The number of right-wing parties increased, while the number of center parties reduced. The left-wing parties’ amount remained the same.

Of the total 513 representatives, 244 (48%) were reelected, while 269 (52%) will serve their first term in the house. 372 representatives have already held public positions. About 55% of the new House of Representative is composed by parties that have an economic liberal agenda, while 28% is composed by parties that have a nationalist and anti-IP agenda.

NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY PARTY

SENATE

The Senate had a change of 58% in its composition, the biggest in its history. In relation to the seats open for dispute (2/3 of 81), the change of composition was 85%. The party fragmentation reached its highest level since the end of the Military Regime, with 21 parties represented.

Of the 54 seats open for dispute, only 8 (15%) were filled by reelected senators, the remaining 46 seats (85%) were filled by new senators. Out of the 46 new senators, 9 have never held public office. About 47% of the new Senate is composed by parties that have an economic liberal agenda, while 22% is composed by parties that have a nationalist and anti-IP agenda.

NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE SENATE BY PARTY

Read the analysis written by Licks Attorneys Government Affairs & International Relations group in English, Japanese & French.

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Brazil General Elections: an overview of the 2019 National Congress

The 2018 General elections brought the largest change to the Brazilian Congress in 20 years, with many traditional parties and politicians losing ground to a new composition of congressmen. The results showed a clear growth of right-wing actors in Congress, generally in favor of economic liberalism, rather than nationalistic and anti-IP agendas. Indeed, the Liberal Social Party (PSL) had the biggest growth in seats at the Congress.

VARIATION IN THE NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE NATIONAL CONGRESS BY PARTY

President-elected Jair Bolsonaro has already gathered the informal support from multi-partisan Congress caucuses (evangelical, rural and security), and his base thus has the potential of reaching 300 votes. Though a more conservative Congress tends to back the policies of a right-wing rather than leftist president, Bolsonaro’s ability to reach agreements with Congress is unpredictable.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives had a change of 52.4% in its composition, the biggest change in 20 years. The party fragmentation remains high, with 30 parties represented in the House. The number of right-wing parties increased, while the number of center parties reduced. The left-wing parties’ amount remained the same.

Of the total 513 representatives, 244 (48%) were reelected, while 269 (52%) will serve their first term in the house. 372 representatives have already held public positions. About 55% of the new House of Representative is composed by parties that have an economic liberal agenda, while 28% is composed by parties that have a nationalist and anti-IP agenda.

NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY PARTY

SENATE

The Senate had a change of 58% in its composition, the biggest in its history. In relation to the seats open for dispute (2/3 of 81), the change of composition was 85%. The party fragmentation reached its highest level since the end of the Military Regime, with 21 parties represented.

Of the 54 seats open for dispute, only 8 (15%) were filled by reelected senators, the remaining 46 seats (85%) were filled by new senators. Out of the 46 new senators, 9 have never held public office. About 47% of the new Senate is composed by parties that have an economic liberal agenda, while 22% is composed by parties that have a nationalist and anti-IP agenda.

NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE SENATE BY PARTY

Read the analysis written by Licks Attorneys Government Affairs & International Relations group in English, Japanese & French.