Political Reform in Brazil: Recent Proposals, Diagnosis, and a Suggestion

Abstract

If we count the indirect, but competitive, election of 1985, Brazil has already experienced six presidential and six legislative elections since the end of the military dictatorship (1985, 1989, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006; 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006). Democracy has been in place for over 20 years now and, contrary to the image that is often projected by both the popular press and academics, both lamenting the fact that it has not brought about paradise-on-earth, it is operating reasonably well. Yet, political reform has been perennially on the agenda and seems to have gained a boost from the allegations of corruption in the middle of 2005 involving members of the executive and Congress. It is unclear if the proposed reforms are meant to prevent and, if implemented, whether they will be at all capable of preventing what is considered the high levels of corruption of the first Lula government. What is clear is that the 2005 corruption allegations provided a new impetus to those who seek to overhaul of the political system.