Opposition argues for parliamentary system and end to reelections

The national head of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), Senator Aécio Neves, defended on Thursday (Apr 16) extending tenures of office from four to five years and the end of reelections. Defeated in the previous presidential election, Neves brought forward his party's proposals at a public hearing at the Special Commission for Political Reform, at the lower house. He also argued for a parliamentary system of government.

“We've been parliamentarian ever since our foundation. I regard the parliamentary system of government as the most stable and advanced system,” he said, adding that the topic should not be part of current discussions about political reform. He noted that the population voted for the presidential system at a plebiscite, but he believes that the subject will be ripe for discussion in Congress some time in the future.

Neves also explained that the discussion over the end of reelections was met with much controversy in his own political party, but eventually prevailed. “Over the last years, we've watched—I'm not referring to the latest elections alone—as serious acts of abuse and the unrestrained use of the istrative apparatus in behalf of a candidacy. If that's true nationwide, it's also the case at municipal and state level. What PSDB's proposal suggests is the end of reelections, with a 5-year-long term for all position holders,” he said.

In the senator's view, the end of proportional coalitions would represent an improvement in the system and would indirectly work as an electoral threshold—a rule preventing or restraining a party's right to representation in Congress. Aécio Neves, however, called for the adoption of the election threshold that, in his view, would reduce the number of political parties, whose proliferation he regards critically. “It would bring it down to some ten political parties in operation in Parliament, which, in my humble judgment, would be something extraordinary.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

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