South America and South Atlantic Islands

Brazil
Last reviewed: 7 January 2009

Country information

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POLITICS

Brazilian politics since the end of the military regime in 1985 have been characterised by a multiplicity of political parties. Many do not have a strong ideological foundation or detailed policy platforms, and are built around shifting small groups of high-profile politicians. In recent years, 4 main parties have come to dominate the political landscape: the PSDB (Brazilian Social –Democratic Party); the PT (Worker’s Party); the PMDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement Party); and the DEM (Democrats).

The PSDB's candidate, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, won the presidential elections in 1994, and was re-elected in 1998. The centre-left PSDB (Brazilian Social-Democratic Party) remains important across the country and governs both the state and city of Sao Paulo – the most populous and wealthy state and city in the country. Their Presidential candidate, Geraldo Alckmin (a former Governor of Sao Paulo), was the main rival to incumbent President Lula in the 2006 elections.

President Lula, one of the founders and the most charismatic leader of the PT, won the 2002 Presidential elections convincingly with 61% of the vote. This was Lula's fourth attempt at the Presidency. His election represented a vote for change – particularly in taking forward Brazil’s social agenda. Lula put pro-poor policies at the top of his agenda, whist also continuing his predecessor’s commitment to IMF targets and fiscal discipline.

The 2006 Presidential elections were taken to a second round. However, Lula beat Geraldo Alckmin convincingly with over 60% of the vote. The 'Zero Hunger' campaign (with the aim of providing basic food supplies to millions of families) was Lula's flagship social policy at the start of his first term in office. Later, Lula decided to unify all major social programmes under one flag –Bolsa Família (Family Grant) – with the objective of reaching a wider population and avoiding waste of resources in this area. After his first ministerial reshuffle in early 2003, the new Ministry for Social Development was created to oversee all social programmes.

Serious corruption accusations involving Lula’s closest associates and allies began to emerge in 2005, leading to a series of Congressional investigations. Despite attempts to minimise and contain the crisis, the scandal saw the resignation of several leading figures in the PT, and investigation continues in Congress. It dominated press coverage in the build up to October 2006’s Presidential, Congressional and State Governor elections. The most visible consequence of this was the fact that the Presidential elections were taken to a second round.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The Brazilian Government is committed to protecting human rights. Brazil's first National Plan for Human Rights was unveiled in 1996 and a National Secretariat for Human Rights was created in 1997. President Lula has also appointed Special Secretaries for Women's Rights and Promotion of Racial Equality. Principle human rights concerns in Brazil include police violence and impunity, prison conditions, access to legal advice, violence and discrimination against both indigenous communities and landless people, human trafficking, major deficiencies in the realisation of children's rights, torture, working conditions and corruption with relative impunity for those involved.

The government has introduced a number of programmes, for example, Bolsa Familia, the Zero Hunger programme and the Programme for the Eradication of Slave Labour. Human rights is a key aspect of the UK's dialogue with the Brazilian Government. FCO funding is being used to support projects on combating torture and reporting on the UN Child Rights Convention.