Elections in Brazil: en route to a modern political system

Abstract

Presidential elections in Brazil consolidated the tendency toward modernization and stabilization of the political system that had been expressed in the strengthening of a national bi-partisanism, the fading away of state oligarchy’s electoral role, the electoral equilibrium that was achieved among the different levels of government and the centralizing logic of major political actors. These factors, which in essence can be considered quite positive, are central to the explanation of Lula’s victory in the second round of elections, in which a positive evaluation of his economic management prevailed over ethical considerations. Keywords: politics; elections; political system; Luís Inácio Lula da Silva.