All Eyes on Brazil

Though less than a week has passed since the crucial Venezuelan National Assembly elections, all eyes have already turned to Brazil, as it heads into general elections on October 3rd. This Sunday, Brazilians will cast their votes not only for the next president, but also for members of the bicameral Congresso Nacional, as well as state governors and legislators.All 513 seats in the Congresso’s Chamber of Deputies are up for grabs, in addition to two-thirds of the 81 Federal Senate seats. Should no presidential candidate receive over 50 percent of the vote, a run-off will take place on October 31st.
Unlike many of his Latin American counterparts, the wildly popular incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has commendably dismissed calls to override Brazil’s two-term limit and run for reelection. Instead, Lula has endorsed his former Chief of Staff, Dilma Rousseff, as the Workers’ Party (PT) candidate. The presidential race pits Rousseff against the former governor of the state of Sao Paulo, José Serra of the Social Democrat Party (PSDB).

For full article click here

This analysis was prepared by COHA Staff

Friday, October 01, 2010 | Research Memorandum 10.1