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POLITICS

Brazil’s Senate moves to reshape political system

The Senate Constitution and Justice Committee approved a constitutional amendment bill that would end re-election for presidents, governors and mayors, while extending the terms of executive posts from four to five years. Senatorial terms, meanwhile, would be shortened from 8 to 5 years.

If the proposal ultimately passes, it would reshape the electoral calendar by unifying all Brazil’s elections starting in 2034, instead of alternating between municipal and federal elections every two years. The 2026 and 2030 elections would remain under the current rules.

The amendment still faces hurdles. To become law, it must pass two votes in the full Senate and then clear two votes in the lower house — getting at least 60% support at every turn.

“Elections every two years give no rest — not to voters, and certainly not to candidates, from city council members to the president,” said Senator Otto Alencar, chairman of the Senate Constitution and Justice Committee. “We had an election just last year.”

Experts disagree with his assessment. “In addition to weakening the prominence of local elections and encouraging the nationalization of debates over local issues, the proposal would also make voting more burdensome,” wrote political scientist Lara Mesquita, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation’s school of economics. “Voters would be expected to choose candidates for seven different offices in a single sitting.”

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