Brazilian legislative election, 2010

Brazilian parliamentary election, 2010

October 3, 2010

All 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 54 out of 81 seats in the Federal Senate   First party Second party Third party   Leader Fernando Ferro Henrique Eduardo Alves João Almeida dos Santos Party PT PMDB PSDB Alliance PBSM PBSM BPM Last election 83 seats, 16.2% 89 seats, 17.3% 66 seats, 12.8% Seats won 88 79 53 Seat change +5 –10 –13 Popular vote 16,289,199 12,537,252 11,477,380 Percentage 16.9 % 13.0 % 11.9 %

The 2010 Brazilian parliamentary election was held on Sunday, October 3, as part of the country's general election. On that date, 54 of the 81 seats in the Federal Senate and all 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies were up for election.

This election was marked by the advance of the Lulista bloc, gathered around the For Brazil to keep on changing coalition, in the National Congress. On the other hand, the centre-right opposition, gathered around the Brazil can do more coalition, lost seats in both houses.

Election information

According to the Constitution, each state is represented by three Senators elected by a majority of the votes. They are directly elected to an eight-year term, and there is no limit on the number of terms a Senator may serve. Alternating, one third and then two thirds of the seats are up for election every four years. In 2006, one third of the seats were up for election and thus in 2010 two thirds of the seats were up for election, corresponding to two of the Senators elected by each one of the 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District.

The Chamber of Deputies represent the people of each state, and its members are elected by a system of proportional representation, due to federalism being adopted as the form of government in the country. Federal deputies are elected for a four-year term, and there is no limit on the number of terms a deputy may serve.

Election results

Election campaign team of Sávio Neves, candidate in Rio de Janeiro

In 2010, 22 of the country's 27 registered political parties were able to elect at least one representative in the Chamber, while 15 were able to elect at least one Senator.

As a result of the so-called "Red Wave",^[1] the Workers' Party (PT) became the largest party in the Chamber for the first time ever with 88 deputies, and elected Marco Maia as President of the lower house.^[2] Collectively, its coalition, For Brazil to keep on changing, elected 311 deputies.^[3] Four parties in the coalition lost seats; the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), Brazilian Republican Party (PRB), Democratic Labour Party (PDT), and the Christian Labour Party (PTC). However, only the PTC failed to gain seats in either house. The Republic Party (RP) had the biggest gain, electing 16 deputies more than in 2006.^[3] In the Senate, the centre-left coalition was able to elect 39 seats, against 10 won by the opposition.^[4] PT reached an all-time high in the upper house, electing 12 Senators and becoming the second largest party in the Senate, behind only the PMDB.^[4] The other parties in the coalition did not have any significant gains, with the exception being the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), which was able to elect the first female Communist Senator in Brazilian history (Vanessa Grazziotin, from Amazonas).^[5]

The anti-Lula bloc, on the other hand, suffered substantial losses in both houses. The Democrats (DEM), which had been the second largest party in the Senate during the previous 2007-2011 legislature, was the fourth largest, and managed to elect only 2 seats, reducing their total to 6 seats, tied with the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) from the same coalition.^[4] It also had the largest loss in the Chamber, losing 22 seats, and was closely followed by its ally, the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), which lost 13 seats.^[3] Overall, the Brazil can do more coalition lost control of 44 seats in the Chamber^[3] and 11 in the Senate.^[4] Influential members of the opposition during the Lula administration, such as Arthur Virgílio, Heráclito Fortes, Marco Maciel, and Tasso Jereissati, were not able to obtain re-election and will no longer serve in the National Congress.^[6]

Other opposition members were more successful than the centre-right Brazil can do more coalition. The Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) was able to elect two Senators, gaining an extra seat when compared to the previous legislature.^[4] It also kept its three seats in the Chamber.^[3] The Green Party (PV) gained two extra seats in the Chamber,^[3] in spite of losing its only seat in the Senate.^[4]

By party

Summary of the 3 October 2010 National Congress election results

By political groups

References

Elections and referendums in Brazil Presidential elections (1891) 1894 1898 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1919 1922 1926 1930 (1934) 1945 1950 1955 1960 (1964) (1966) (1969) (1974) (1978) (1985) 1989 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Parliamentary elections 1823 1826 1830 1834 1842 1843 1845 1848 1850 1853 1857 1861 1864 1867 1869 1872 1877 1878 1882 1885 1886 1890 1894 1896 1899 1903 1906 1909 1912 1915 1918 1927 1930 1933 1934 1945 1947 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 Municipal elections 1985 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 Referendums 1963 1993 2005 Elections in brackets were indirect