List of political parties in Brazil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brazil has a multi-party system since 1979, when the country's military dictatorship disbanded an enforced two-party system and allowed the creation of multiple parties.[1] All candidates for federal, state, municipal, and Federal District offices must be nominated by a political party. Independent politicians are not allowed to run for office in Brazil.[2]
The Brazilian National Congress has been since characterized by political fragmentation, reaching a peak of 35 registered political parties in 2018, 30 of which were represented in congress after the 2018 general election[3][4][5], with an effective number of parties of 16.5.[6] An electoral threshold introduced in 2017, which restricted access to party subsidies and free party political broadcasts, combined with the end of coalitions in proportional elections, has since caused this number to decrease.[6][7] Since 2021, parties are allowed to unite under party federations, with a minimum duration of four years, sharing a common statute and leadership.[8]
Since the 2022 general election, the Liberal Party (PL), the Workers' Party (PT), the Brazil Union (UNIÃO), the Progressives (PP), the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) and the Republicans together control over 80% of the Brazilian Congress, along with over 70% of the mayors in municipalities.[9][10]
Brazilian parties have access to party subsidies in the form of Fundo Partidário (lit. 'Party Fund') and Fundo Eleitoral (lit. 'Electoral Fund')[11], and a system of free party political broadcasts during election time known as the horário eleitoral gratuito.[12]
Since 1982, Brazilian political parties have been given an electoral number to make it easier for illiterate people to vote. Initially, it was a one-digit number: 1 for PDS, 2 for PDT, 3 for PT, 4 for PTB, and 5 for PMDB.[13] When it became clear that there was going to be more than nine parties, two-digit numbers were assigned, with the first five parties having a "1" added to their former one-digit number (PDS becoming number 11, PDT 12, PT 13, PTB 14, and PMDB 15).[14] Political parties often change their names, but they can retain their number.
Active parties
Parties with representation in the National Congress
| Logo | Party | Ideology |
Political position |
President | Chamber[15] | Senate[16] | Assemblies[17] | Governors | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_logo.svg){kind=logo} |
Liberal Party Partido Liberal |
PL | Right-wing to far-right | Valdemar Costa Neto | 90 / 513 |
15 / 81 |
128 / 1,059 |
2 / 27 | ||
_logo_2021.svg){kind=logo} |
Workers' Party Partido dos Trabalhadores |
PT | Centre-left to left-wing Factions: Left-wing to far-left |
Edinho Silva | 67 / 513 |
9 / 81 |
118 / 1,059 |
4 / 27 | ||
 |
Brazil Union União Brasil |
UNIÃO | Centre-right[18][23] | Antônio de Rueda | 55 / 513 |
5 / 81 |
98 / 1,059 |
4 / 27 | ||
.svg){kind=logo} |
Progressives Progressistas |
PP | Centre-right | Ciro Nogueira | 48 / 513 |
8 / 81 |
86 / 1,059 |
2 / 27 | ||
 |
Social Democratic Party Partido Social Democrático |
PSD | Gilberto Kassab | 46 / 513 |
13 / 81 |
79 / 1,059 |
4 / 27 | |||
_wordmark.svg){kind=small} |
Republicans Republicanos |
Repub. | Right-wing[31] | Marcos Pereira | 45 / 513 |
5 / 81 |
76 / 1,059 |
2 / 27 | ||
 |
Brazilian Democratic Movement Movimento Democrático Brasileiro |
MDB |
|
Baleia Rossi | 43 / 513 |
10 / 81 |
94 / 1,059 |
3 / 27 | ||
.svg){kind=small} |
Brazilian Socialist Party Partido Socialista Brasileiro |
PSB | Centre to centre-left Historically: Left-wing |
João Henrique Campos | 16 / 513 |
5 / 81 |
54 / 1,059 |
3 / 27 | ||
_logo.svg){kind=logo} |
We Can Podemos |
PODE | Centre-right | Renata Abreu | 16 / 513 |
4 / 81 |
48 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | ||
.svg){kind=small} |
Brazilian Social Democracy Party Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira |
PSDB | Centre to Centre-right Historical, now faction: Centre to centre-left |
Marconi Perillo | 16 / 513 |
3 / 81 |
55 / 1,059 |
1 / 27 | ||
.svg){kind=small} |
Democratic Labour Party Partido Democrático Trabalhista |
PDT | Centre-left[62] Historical: Left-wing[63] |
Carlos Lupi | 16 / 513 |
2 / 81 |
44 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | ||
 |
Socialism and Liberty Party Partido Socialismo e Liberdade |
PSOL | Left-wing[68] to far-left[72] | Paula Coradi | 15 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
22 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | ||
.svg){kind=logo} |
Communist Party of Brazil Partido Comunista do Brasil |
PCdoB | Centre-left to left-wing Historically: Far-left |
Luciana Santos | 9 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
18 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | ||
_logo.svg){kind=logo} |
Forward Avante |
Avante | Centre[79][80][81] | Luis Tibé | 8 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
14 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | ||
.svg){kind=logo} |
New Party Partido Novo |
NOVO | Right-wing[87] to far-right[88] | Eduardo Ribeiro | 5 / 513 |
1 / 81 |
5 / 1,059 |
1 / 27 | ||
_logo.svg){kind=logo} |
Solidarity Solidariedade |
Solid. | Centre | Paulinho da Força | 5 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
29 / 1,059 |
1 / 27 | ||
 |
Democratic Renewal Party Partido Renovação Democrática |
PRD | National conservatism | Right-wing | Marcus Vinícius Neskau | 4 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
25 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | |
 |
Green Party Partido Verde |
PV | Green politics | Centre[90] to left-wing[91] | José Luiz Penna | 4 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
20 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | |
 |
Citizenship Cidadania |
Cidad. |
|
Roberto Freire | 4 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
19 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | ||
 |
Sustainability Network Rede Sustentabilidade |
REDE | Social: Left-wing[101] Fiscal: Right-wing[102] |
|
4 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
6 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | ||
.svg){kind=logo} |
Mission Party Partido Missão |
MISSÃO | Conservative liberalism[103] Economic liberalism[103] National liberalism[104] Bukelism[105][a] Fiscal conservatism[103][106] |
Right-wing to Far-right[112][b] | Renan Santos | 1 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
1 / 1,059 |
0 / 27 | |
Parties without representation in the National Congress
| Logo | Party | Ideology | Political position |
President | Assemblies[17] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party Partido Renovador Trabalhista Brasileiro |
PRTB | Far-right[124] | Leonardo Avalanche | 6 / 1,059 | ||
 |
Act Agir |
AGIR |
|
|
Daniel Tourinho | 5 / 1,059 | |
 |
National Mobilization Mobilização Nacional |
Mobiliza | Centre-right[138][139] Historical: Centre-left[78] |
Antonio Massarollo | 5 / 1,059 | ||
 |
Democrat Democrata |
Suêd Haidar | 3 / 1,059 | ||||
 |
Christian Democracy Democracia Cristã |
DC | Centre-right | José Maria Eymael | 1 / 1,059 | ||
 |
Workers' Cause Party Partido da Causa Operária |
PCO | Left-wing[146] to far-left | Rui Costa Pimenta | N/a | ||
 |
Brazilian Communist Party Partido Comunista Brasileiro |
PCB | Far-left[154] | Edmilson Costa | N/a | ||
 |
United Socialist Workers' Party Partido Socialista dos Trabalhadores Unificado |
PSTU | Left-wing[156] to far-left[157] | Zé Maria | N/a | ||
 |
Popular Unity Unidade Popular |
UP | Far-left | Léo Péricles | N/a | ||
Party federations
On 28 September 2021, Law No. 14,208 was enacted, establishing "federations" (Portuguese: federações).[29] These federations are associations between parties, considered as a single party in elections and legislative activities such as the creation of caucuses and committees.[158] The associated parties must belong to the federation for at least four years from the date of its registration, with penalties if they leave before the deadline.[29]
The establishment of party federations followed the abolition of coalitions in proportional elections, which allowed parties to function as single in seat allocation. This change was implemented through Constitutional Amendment No. 97 of 2017, which also introduced an electoral threshold for future parliamentary elections.[159] Parties and federations that surpass this threshold gain access to public subsidies through the Party Fund (Portuguese: Fundo Partidário) and are entitled to free advertising on radio and television.
Below are listed the federations currently registered with the Superior Electoral Court:[160]
| Federation | President | Representation[161][162][163] | Parties | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputies | Senators | Assemb. | ||||
| Brazil of Hope Federation Federação Brasil da Esperança |
José Luiz Penna | 80 / 513 |
9 / 81 |
156 / 1,059 |
PT | |
| PCdoB | ||||||
| PV | ||||||
| PSDB Cidadania Federation Federação PSDB Cidadania |
Aécio Neves | 20 / 513 |
3 / 81 |
74 / 1,060 |
PSDB | |
| Cidadania | ||||||
| PSOL REDE Federation Federação PSOL REDE |
Paula Coradi | 15 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
28 / 1,060 |
PSOL | |
| REDE | ||||||
| Solidary Renewal Federation Federação Renovação Solidária |
Ovasco Resende | 10 / 513 |
0 / 81 |
54 / 1,060 |
Solidariedade | |
| PRD | ||||||
| Progressive Union Federação União Progressista |
Antônio Rueda Ciro Nogueira |
101 / 513 |
14 / 81 |
186 / 1,060 |
UNIÃO | |
| PP | ||||||
Extinct parties
This list presents the parties of the current Sixth Republic that were once registered with the Superior Electoral Court, but have ceased to exist. The existence of all these parties has ended by the result of mergers.
- Democrats - DEM (Democratas)[c]
- Party of the Nation's Retirees - PAN (Partido dos Aposentados da Nação)
- Christian Democratic Party (1985) - PDC (Partido Democrata Cristão)
- Democratic Social Party - PDS (Partido Democrático Social)
- Workers' General Party - PGT (Partido Geral dos Trabalhadores)
- Humanist Party of Solidarity - PHS (Partido Humanista da Solidariedade)[d]
- Liberal Party (1985) - PL (Partido Liberal)
- Free Fatherland Party - PPL (Partido Pátria Livre)
- Progressive Party (1993) - PP (Partido Progressista)
- Reform Progressive Party - PPR (Partido Progressista Reformador)
- Party of Reconstruction of the National Order - PRONA (Partido de Reedificação da Ordem Nacional)
- Republican Party of the Social Order - PROS (Partido Republicano da Ordem Social)
- Progressive Republican Party - PRP (Partido Republicano Progressista)
- Social Christian Party - PSC (Partido Social Cristão)
- Social Democratic Party (1987) - PSD (Partido Social Democrático)
- Social Liberal Party - PSL (Partido Social Liberal)
- Social Labour Party (1983) - PST (Partido Social Trabalhista)
- Brazilian Labour Party (1981) - PTB (Partido Trabalhista Brasileiro)
- Renewal Labour Party - PTR (Partido Trabalhista Renovador)
- Patriot (Patriota)[e]
Historical parties
This list presents the parties that never reached the Sixth Republic. Due to the large number of parties that were dissolved, especially during the First and Second Republics, it is not intended to be an exhaustive list.
Imperial Brazil (1822–1889)
- Conservative Party (Partido Conservador)
- Liberal Party (Partido Liberal)
- Progressive League (Liga Progressista)[f]
First and Second Republics (1889–1937)
- Paulista Republican Party - PRP (Partido Republicano Paulista)
- Rio-grandense Republican Party - PRR (Partido Republicano Rio-Grandense)
- Minas Gerais Republican Party - PRM (Partido Republicano Mineiro)
- Fluminense Republican Party - PRF (Partido Republicano Fluminense)
- Federal Republican Party - PRF (Partido Republicano Federal)
- Conservative Republican Party - PRC (Partido Republicano Conservador)
- Democratic Party - PD (Partido Democrático)
- Liberating Party - PL (Partido Libertador)
- Brazilian Black Front - FNB (Frente Negra Brasileira)
- Catholic Electoral League (Liga Eleitoral Católica)
- Brazilian Integralist Action - AIB (Ação Integralista Brasileira)
Fourth Republic (1945–1964)
- National Democratic Union - UDN (União Democrática Nacional)
- Brazilian Labour Party (1945) - PTB (Partido Trabalhista Brasileiro)
- Brazilian Socialist Party (1945) - PSB (Partido Socialista Brasileiro)[g]
- Orienting Labour Party - POT (Partido Orientador Trabalhista)
- Christian Democratic Party (1945) - PDC (Partido Democrata Cristão)
- Social Democratic Party (1945) - PSD (Partido Social Democrático)
- Republican Party - PR (Partido Republicano)
- Popular Representation Party - PRP (Partido de Representação Popular)
- National Labour Party - PTN (Partido Trabalhista Nacional)
- Social Labour Party (1946) - PST (Partido Social Trabalhista)[h]
- Social Progressive Party - PSP (Partido Social Progressista)[i]
- Republican Labour Party - PRT (Partido Republicano Trabalhista)[j]
- Renewal Labour Movement - MTR (Movimento Trabalhista Renovador)
Military Dictatorship (1964–1985)
- National Renewal Alliance - ARENA (Aliança Renovadora Nacional)
- Brazilian Democratic Movement - MDB (Movimento Democrático Brasileiro)
See also
Notes
- Known from 1985 to 2007 as the Party of the Liberal Front (Partido da Frente Liberal).
- Known from 1995 to 1998 as the National Solidarist Party (Partido Solidarista Nacional), and from 1998 to 2000 as the Party of National Solidarity (Partido da Solidariedade Nacional).
- Known from 2011 to 2017 as the National Ecological Party (Partido Ecológico Nacional).
- Also called Progressive Party.
- Known from 1945 to 1947 as the Democratic Left (Esquerda Democrática).
- Known from 1946 to 1947 as the Proletarian Party of Brazil (Partido Proletário do Brasil).
- Created from the merger of three parties: the National Agrarian Party (Partido Agrário Nacional), the Popular Syndicalist Party (Partido Popular Sindicalista) and the Progressive Republican Party (Partido Republicano Progressista).
- Known from 1958 until its dissolution in 1965 as the Rural Labour Party (Partido Rural Trabalhista).