2014 Brazilian general election

2014 Brazilian general election

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Presidential election
5 October 2014 (first round)
26 October 2014 (second round)
Opinion polls
Turnout80.61% (first round)
78.90% (second round)
 
Nominee Dilma Rousseff Aécio Neves
Party PT PSDB
Alliance For Brazil to Keep on Changing Change Brazil
Running mate Michel Temer Aloysio Nunes
Popular vote 54,501,118 51,041,155
Percentage 51.64% 48.36%

Presidential election results

President before election

Dilma Rousseff
PT

Elected President

Dilma Rousseff
PT

Chamber of Deputies

All 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
257 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader % Seats +/–
PT Vicente Paulo da Silva 13.94 69 −19
PSDB Antônio Imbassahy 11.39 54 +1
PMDB Eduardo Cunha 11.10 66 −13
PP Eduardo da Fonte 6.61 38 −5
PSB Beto Albuquerque 6.44 34 0
PSD 6.14 36 New
PR Bernardo Santana 5.79 34 −7
Republicanos George Hilton 4.55 21 +13
DEM Mendonça Filho 4.20 21 −21
PTB Jovair Arantes 4.02 25 +4
PDT Félix Mendonça Jr. 3.57 19 −9
Solidarity 2.77 15 New
PSC André Moura 2.59 13 −5
PV Sarney Filho 2.06 8 −7
PROS 2.03 11 New
PPS Rubens Bueno 2.01 10 −2
PCdoB Jandira Feghali 1.97 10 −5
PSOL Ivan Valente 1.79 5 +2
PHS None 0.95 5 +3
PTdoB Luis Tibé 0.84 1 −2
PSL None 0.83 1 0
PRP Francisco Sampaio 0.75 3 +1
PTN None 0.74 4 +4
PEN 0.69 2 New
PSDC 0.52 2 +2
PMN 0.48 3 −1
PRTB 0.47 1 −1
PTC 0.35 2 +1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Federal Senate

27 of the 81 seats in the Federal Senate
Party Leader % Seats +/–
PSDB Aloysio Nunes 26.73 10 −1
PT Humberto Costa 16.96 12 −3
PMDB Eunício Oliveira 13.58 18 −1
PSB Rodrigo Rollemberg 13.57 7 +4
PSD 8.00 3 New
PDT Acir Gurgacz 4.04 8 +4
DEM José Agripino 3.93 5 −1
PTB Gim Argello 3.14 3 −3
PROS 2.50 1 New
PP Francisco Dornelles 2.16 5 0
PSOL Randolfe Rodrigues 1.17 1 −1
PCdoB Vanessa Grazziotin 0.90 1 −1
PV Paulo Davim 0.81 1 +1
PR Alfredo Nascimento 0.78 4 0
Solidarity 0.41 1 New
Republicanos Marcelo Crivella 0.34 1 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

General elections were held in Brazil on 5 October 2014 to elect the president, the National Congress, and state governorships. As no candidate in the presidential election received more than 50% of the vote in the first round on 5 October 2014, a second-round runoff was held on 26 October 2014.

Elections were held in the midst of the devastating 2014 Brazilian economic crisis. President Dilma Rousseff of the left-wing Workers' Party ran for reelection, choosing incumbent Vice President Michel Temer of the centre-right Brazilian Democratic Movement as her running-mate. During her first term, Rousseff's presidency was rocked by the 2013 protests in Brazil, initiated mainly by the Free Fare Movement, in response to social inequality in the country.

Aécio Neves, a senator from the electorally-crucial state of Minas Gerais and the grandson of former president-elect Tancredo Neves, entered the race as the candidate of the centre-right Brazilian Social Democracy Party. Neves, who previously served as a popular Governor of Minas Gerais, had previously considered running for president in 2010 before ultimately declining. Unlike in past presidential elections, the PSDB ticket consisted of two members of the party, with São Paulo Senator Aloysio Nunes serving as his running mate.

Former Pernambuco Governor Eduardo Campos, who had served with Rousseff in the left-wing Lula administration, entered the race as a centre-left alternative to Rousseff on the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) ticket. For his running mate, Campos chose Marina Silva, an environmentalist politician from the state of Acre who performed unexpectedly well in the 2010 presidential election. However, Campos unexpectedly died in a plane crash less than two months before the first round of voting, and Silva replaced him at the top of the ticket.

In the first round of voting, Dilma Rousseff won 41.6% of the vote, ahead of Aécio Neves with 33.6% and Marina Silva with 21.3%. Rousseff and Neves contested the runoff on 26 October, and Rousseff won re-election by a narrow margin, 51.6% to Neves' 48.4%, the closest margin for a Brazilian presidential election since 1989.

Presidential election

Incumbent President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers' Party (PT), Brazil's first female president, was challenged by 11 other candidates. Minas Gerais Senator Aécio Neves from the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) and Marina Silva from the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) were her main rivals. Since none of the candidates obtained over 50% of the valid votes in the 5 October election, a second-round election was held on 26 October between Rousseff and Neves, who had finished first and second respectively in the 5 October vote.

In the run-up to the election, allies of 2010 PSDB presidential nominee José Serra pushed for Governor of São Paulo Geraldo Alckmin, who served as the party's nominee in 2006, to serve as the party's nominee versus Dilma. One of the people who pushed for Alckmin's nomination was Senator from São Paulo Aloysio Nunes, who was later chosen as the running-mate of Neves.

The original PSB candidate had been Eduardo Campos. However, he died in a plane crash in Santos on 13 August 2014, after which the party chose Silva, who had been his running mate, to replace him as the presidential candidate.

Conservative federal deputy Jair Bolsonaro had publicly declared his interest in running for either the presidency or vice presidency in the run-up to the election. However, Bolsonaro did not enter the race.

Aécio Neves running mate selection

Six potential running mates were speculated on as potential vice presidential candidates to run with Aécio Neves on the PSDB ticket according to reporting done by O Globo.

Campaign issues

Economy

Dilma Rousseff

Rousseff defended the significant economic gains and improvements in living standards during her administration and that of her predecessor, Lula da Silva.

Aécio Neves

Neves proposed sweeping reductions in the welfare state and state intervention in the economy.

Allegations of corruption

Shortly before the election, a former executive of the state-run oil company Petrobras accused a minister, three state governors, six senators and dozens of congressmen from President Dilma Rousseff's Workers’ Party (PT) and several coalition allies of having accepted kickback payments from contracts.

Candidates

Candidates in runoff

Party Candidate Most relevant political office or occupation Party Running mate Coalition Electoral number
Workers' Party

Workers' Party (PT)

Dilma Rousseff
Dilma Rousseff
President of Brazil
(2011–2016)
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party

Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB)

Michel Temer
Michel Temer
With the Strength of the People 13
Brazilian Social Democracy Party

Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB)

Aécio Neves
Aécio Neves
Senator for Minas Gerais
(2011–2019)
Brazilian Social Democracy Party

Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB)

Aloysio Nunes
Aloysio Nunes
Change Brazil 45

Candidates failing to make runoff

Party Candidate Most relevant political office or occupation Party Running mate Coalition Electoral number
United Socialist Workers' Party

United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU)

José Maria de Almeida
José Maria de Almeida
PSTU National President
(since 1993)
United Socialist Workers' Party

United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU)

Cláudia Durans 16
Social Christian Party

Social Christian Party (PSC)

Everaldo Pereira
Everaldo Pereira
Deputy Chief of Staff of Rio de Janeiro
(1999–2003)
Social Christian Party

Social Christian Party (PSC)

Leonardo Gadelha 20
Brazilian Communist Party

Brazilian Communist Party (PCB)

Mauro Iasi
Mauro Iasi
Researcher, historian, sociologist, politician and college professor Brazilian Communist Party

Brazilian Communist Party (PCB)

Sofia Manzano
Sofia Manzano
21
Christian Social Democracy Party

Christian Social Democracy Party (PSDC)

José Maria Eymael
José Maria Eymael
PSDC National President
(since 1997)
Christian Social Democracy Party

Christian Social Democracy Party (PSDC)

Roberto Lopes 27
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB) Levy Fidelix
Levy Fidelix
PRTB National President
(1994–2021)
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (PRTB) José Alves de Oliveira 28
Workers' Cause Party

Workers' Cause Party (PCO)

Rui Costa Pimenta
Rui Costa Pimenta
PCO National President
(since 1995)
Workers' Cause Party

Workers' Cause Party (PCO)

Ricardo Machado 29

Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB)

Marina Silva
Marina Silva
Senator for Acre
(1995–2011)

Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB)

Beto Albuquerque
Beto Albuquerque
United for Brazil 40
Green Party

Green Party (PV)

Eduardo Jorge
Eduardo Jorge
Member of the Chamber of Deputies from São Paulo
(1987–2003)
Green Party

Green Party (PV)

Célia Sacramento
Célia Sacramento
43
Socialism and Liberty Party

Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL)

Luciana Genro
Luciana Genro
Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Rio Grande do Sul
(2003–2011)
Socialism and Liberty Party

Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL)

Jorge Paz
Jorge Paz
50

Debates

2014 Brazilian presidential election debates
 No. Date Host and Location Moderator Participants
Key:
 P  Present  N  Not invited  Out  Out of the election
PT PSDB PSB PSOL PV PSC PRTB PSDC
Rousseff Neves Silva Genro Jorge Pereira Fidelix Eymael
1.1 Tuesday, 26 August 2014 Band TV
São Paulo, Morumbi
Ricardo Boechat P P P P P P P N
1.2 Monday, 1 September 2014 SBT, Folha de S. Paulo, Jovem Pan, UOL
Osasco, Industrial Anhanguera
Carlos Nascimento P P P P P P P N
1.3 Tuesday, 16 September 2014 TV Aparecida, CNBB
Aparecida, São Paulo
Rodolpho Gamberini P P P P P P P P
1.4 Sunday, 28 September 2014 RecordTV, R7
São Paulo, Lapa
Adriana Araújo, Celso Freitas P P P P P P P N
1.5 Thursday, 2 October 2014 TV Globo, G1
Rio de Janeiro, Jacarepaguá
William Bonner P P P P P P P N
2.1 Tuesday, 14 October 2014 Band TV
São Paulo, Morumbi
Ricardo Boechat P P Out
2.2 Thursday, 16 October 2014 SBT, Folha de S. Paulo, Jovem Pan, UOL
Osasco, Industrial Anhanguera
Carlos Nascimento P P
2.3 Sunday, 19 October 2014 RecordTV, R7
São Paulo, Lapa
Adriana Araújo, Celso Freitas P P
2.4 Friday, 24 October 2014 TV Globo, G1
Rio de Janeiro, Jacarepaguá
William Bonner P P

Opinion polls

First round

Polling aggregates
Active candidates
Dilma Rouseff (PT)
Aécio Neves (PSDB)
Marina Silva (PSB)
Eduardo Campos (PSB)
Others
Abstentions/Undecided
Pollster/client(s) Date(s)
conducted
Sample
size
Rousseff
PT
Lula
PT
Neves
PSDB
Serra
PSDB
Silva
PSB/PV
Campos
PSB
Genro
PSOL
Rodrigues
PSOL
Sampaio
PSOL
Pereira
PSC
Jorge
PV
Others Abst.
Undec.
Lead
2014 election 5 Oct 41.59% 33.55% 21.32% 1.55% 0.75% 0.61% 0.64% 9.64% 8.04
Ibope (exit poll) 5 Oct 64,200 44% 30% 22% 1% <1% <1% <1% 14%
Datafolha 3–4 Oct 18,116 40% 24% 22% 1% 1% 1% <1% 10% 16%
Datafolha 29–30 Sep 7,520 40% 20% 25% 1% 1% <1% <1% 10% 15%
Ibope 27–29 Sep 3,010 39% 19% 25% 1% 1% <1% <1% 14% 14%
Ibope 20–22 Sep 3,010 38% 19% 29% <1% 1% <1% <1% 12% 9%
Vox Populi 20–21 Sep 2,000 40% 17% 22% 1% 1% 0% 0% 18% 18%
Datafolha 17–18 Sep 5,340 37% 17% 30% 1% 1% <1% <1% 13% 7%
Ibope 13–15 Sep 3,010 36% 19% 30% <1% 1% <1% <1% 13% 6%
Vox Populi 13–14 Sep 2,000 36% 15% 27% 1% 1% 1% <1% 20% 9%
Datafolha 8–9 Sep 10,568 36% 15% 33% 1% 1% 1% <1% 13% 3%
CNI/Ibope 5–8 Sep 2,002 39% 15% 31% <1% 1% <1% <1% 13% 8%
Datafolha 1–3 Sep 10,054 35% 14% 34% 1% 1% 1% 1% 13% 1%
Ibope 31 Aug–2 Sep 2,506 37% 15% 33% <1% 1% <1% <1% 12% 4%
Datafolha 28–29 Aug 2,874 34% 15% 34% <1% 2% <1% <1% 14% Tie
CNT/MDA 21–24 Aug 2,202 36.2% 16.0% 28.2% 0.3% 1.3% 0.4% 0.5% 19.1% 8.0%
Ibope 23–25 Aug 2,506 34% 19% 29% 1% 1% <1% <1% 15% 5%
Datafolha 14–15 Aug 2,843 36% 20% 21% <1% 3% 1% <1% 17% 15%
41% 25% <1% 4% 1% 2% 25% 16%
13 Aug Eduardo Campos dies in a plane crash; Marina Silva is nominated the new PSB candidate
Ibope 3–6 Aug 2,506 38% 23% 9% 1% 3% 1% 1% 24% 15%
Ibope 18–21 Jul 2,002 38% 22% 8% 1% 3% 1% 1% 25% 16%
Datafolha 15–16 Jul 5,377 36% 20% 8% 1% 3% 1% 3% 27% 16%
Datafolha 1–2 Jul 2,857 38% 20% 9% 1% 4% 1% 3% 24% 18%
Ibope 13–15 Jun 2,002 39% 21% 10% 3% 6% 21% 18%
Ibope 4–7 Jun 2,002 38% 22% 13% 3% 1% 3% 20% 16%
Datafolha 3–5 Jun 4,337 34% 19% 7% 30% 15%
Vox Populi 31 May–1 Jun 2,200 40% 21% 8% <1% 2% <1% <1% 28% 19%
Ibope 15–19 May 2,002 40% 20% 11% 3% 1% 1% 24% 20%
Datafolha 7–8 May 2,844 37% 20% 11% 1% 3% 1% 2% 24% 17%
41% 22% 14% 23% 19%
52% 19% 11% 18% 33%
49% 17% 9% 1% 2% 1% 2% 19% 32%
Ibope 10–14 Apr 2,002 37% 14% 6% 1% 2% 0% 1% 37% 23%
37% 14% 10% 1% 2% 0% 33% 23%
Vox Populi 6–8 Apr 2,200 40% 16% 10% 0% 2% 1% 3% 29% 22%
Datafolha 2–3 Apr 2,637 38% 16% 10% 0% 2% 1% 3% 29% 22%
43% 18% 14% 25% 25%
39% 16% 27% 19% 12%
52% 16% 11% 21% 36%
48% 14% 23% 15% 25%
Ibope 13–17 Mar 2,002 40% 13% 6% 1% 3% 0% 36% 27%
40% 13% 9% 1% 2% 0% 34% 27%
Datafolha 19–20 Feb 2,614 47% 17% 12% 24% 30%
43% 15% 23% 24% 28%
42% 15% 8% 16% 20% 22%
41% 12% 17% 14% 16% 24%
44% 16% 9% <1% 3% 1% 1% 26% 28%
54% 15% 9% 21% 39%
51% 14% 19% 16% 32%
Vox Populi Archived 2014-10-11 at the Wayback Machine 13–15 Feb 2,201 41% 17% 6% <1% <1% <1% 35% 24%
2010 election 3 Oct 2010 46.91% 32.61% 19.33% 0.87% 0.28 8.64% 14.30

Second round

Polling aggregates
Active candidates
Dilma Rouseff (PT)
Aécio Neves (PSDB)
Pollster/client(s) Date(s)
conducted
Sample
size
Rousseff
PT
Neves
PSDB
Abst.
Undec.
Lead
2014 election 26 Oct 51.64% 48.36% 6.34% 3.28%
Valid votes
Vox Populi 25 Oct 2,000 54% 46% 8%
Datafolha 24–25 Oct 19,318 52% 48% 3%
Ibope 24–25 Oct 3,010 53% 47% 6%
CNT/MDA 23–24 Oct 2,002 49.7% 50.3% 0.6%
Datafolha 22–23 Oct 9,910 53% 47% 6%
Datafolha 21 Oct 4,355 52% 48% 4%
Ibope 20–22 Oct 3,010 54% 46% 8%
Datafolha 20 Oct 4,389 52% 48% 4%
Vox Populi 18–19 Oct 2,000 52% 48% 4%
CNT/MDA 18–19 Oct 2,002 50.5% 49.5% 1%
Datafolha 14–15 Oct 9,081 49% 51% 2%
Ibope 12–14 Oct 3,010 49% 51% 2%
Vox Populi Archived 2018-01-24 at the Wayback Machine 11–12 Oct 2,000 51% 49% 2%
Datafolha 8–9 Oct 2,879 49% 51% 2%
Ibope 7–8 Oct 3,010 49% 51% 2%
Total votes
Vox Populi 25 Oct 2,000 48% 41% 10% 7%
Datafolha 24–25 Oct 19,318 47% 43% 10% 4%
Ibope 24–25 Oct 3,010 49% 43% 8% 6%
CNT/MDA 23–24 Oct 2,002 44.7% 45.3% 10.1% 0.6%
Datafolha 22–23 Oct 9,910 48% 42% 10% 6%
Datafolha 21 Oct 4,355 47% 43% 10% 4%
Ibope 20–22 Oct 3,010 49% 41% 10% 8%
Datafolha 20 Oct 4,389 46% 43% 11% 3%
Vox Populi 18–19 Oct 2,000 46% 43% 11% 3%
CNT/MDA 18–19 Oct 2,002 45.5% 44.5% 10.0% 1%
Datafolha 14–15 Oct 9,081 43% 45% 12% 2%
Ibope 12–14 Oct 3,010 43% 45% 12% 2%
Vox Populi Archived 2018-01-24 at the Wayback Machine 11–12 Oct 2,000 45% 44% 11% 1%
Datafolha 8–9 Oct 2,879 44% 46% 10% 2%
Ibope 7–8 Oct 3,010 44% 46% 10% 2%

Results

President

Second Round results
Municipalities won by Dilma Rousseff:      
Municipalities won by Aécio Neves:      
CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Dilma RousseffMichel Temer (PMDB)Workers' Party43,267,66841.5954,501,11851.64
Aécio NevesAloysio NunesBrazilian Social Democracy Party34,897,21133.5551,041,15548.36
Marina SilvaBeto AlbuquerqueBrazilian Socialist Party22,176,61921.32
Luciana GenroJorge PazSocialism and Liberty Party1,612,1861.55
Everaldo PereiraLeonardo GadelhaSocial Christian Party780,5130.75
Eduardo JorgeCélia SacramentoGreen Party630,0990.61
Levy FidelixJosé Alves de OliveiraBrazilian Labour Renewal Party446,8780.43
José Maria de AlmeidaCláudia DuransUnited Socialist Workers' Party91,2090.09
José Maria EymaelRoberto LopesChristian Social Democratic Party61,2500.06
Mauro IasiSofia ManzanoBrazilian Communist Party47,8450.05
Rui Costa PimentaRicardo MachadoWorkers' Cause Party12,3240.01
Total104,023,802100.00105,542,273100.00
Valid votes104,023,80290.36105,542,27393.66
Invalid/blank votes11,099,0819.647,141,6066.34
Total votes115,122,883100.00112,683,879100.00
Registered voters/turnout142,822,04680.61142,822,04678.90
Source: Election Resources

Voter demographics

Demographic subgroup Rousseff Neves % of
total vote
Total vote 52 48 100
Gender
Men 51 49 48
Women 54 46 52
Age
16–24 years old 50 50 16
25–34 years old 52 47 23
35–44 years old 55 45 20
45–59 years old 53 47 24
60 and older 50 50 17
Education
Less than high school 61 39 36
High school diploma 51 49 43
Bachelor's degree or more 39 61 21
Family income
Under 2x min wage 63 37 38
2-5x min wage 50 50 39
5-10x min wage 40 60 13
Over 10x min wage 35 65 10
Region
Southeast 44 56 44
South 45 55 15
Northeast 70 30 27
Central-West 44 56 7
North 58 42 7
Source: Datafolha

Chamber of Deputies

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Workers' Party13,554,16613.9469–19
Brazilian Social Democracy Party11,073,63111.3954+1
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party10,791,94911.1066–13
Progressive Party6,429,7916.6138–5
Brazilian Socialist Party6,267,8786.44340
Social Democratic Party5,967,9536.1436New
Party of the Republic5,635,5195.7934–7
Brazilian Republican Party4,423,9934.5521+13
Democrats4,085,4874.2021–21
Brazilian Labour Party3,914,1934.0225+4
Democratic Labour Party3,469,1683.5719–9
Solidariedade2,689,7012.7715New
Social Christian Party2,520,4212.5913–5
Green Party2,004,4642.068–7
Republican Party of the Social Order1,977,1172.0311New
Popular Socialist Party1,955,6892.0110–2
Communist Party of Brazil1,913,0151.9710–5
Socialism and Liberty Party1,745,4701.795+2
Humanist Party of Solidarity926,6640.955+3
Labour Party of Brazil812,4970.841–2
Social Liberal Party808,7100.8310
Progressive Republican Party724,8250.753+1
National Labour Party723,1820.744+4
National Ecologic Party667,9830.692New
Christian Social Democratic Party509,9360.522+2
Party of National Mobilization467,7770.483–1
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party454,1900.471–1
Christian Labour Party338,1170.352+1
United Socialist Workers' Party188,4730.1900
Free Fatherland Party141,2540.150New
Brazilian Communist Party66,9790.0700
Workers' Cause Party12,9690.0100
Total97,263,161100.005130
Valid votes97,263,16184.65
Invalid votes7,536,8336.56
Blank votes10,106,5868.80
Total votes114,906,580100.00
Registered voters/turnout142,384,19380.70
Source: Election Resources

Senate

PartyVotes%Seats
WonTotal+/–
Brazilian Social Democracy Party23,880,07826.73410–1
Workers' Party15,155,81816.96212–3
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party12,129,96913.58518–1
Brazilian Socialist Party12,123,19413.5737+4
Social Democratic Party7,147,2458.0023New
Democratic Labour Party3,609,6434.0448+4
Democrats3,515,4263.9335–1
Brazilian Labour Party2,803,9993.1423–3
Republican Party of the Social Order2,234,1322.5001New
Progressive Party1,931,7382.16150
Socialism and Liberty Party1,045,2751.1701–1
Communist Party of Brazil803,1440.9001–1
Green Party723,5760.8101+1
Party of the Republic696,4620.78140
Solidarity370,5070.4101New
United Socialist Workers' Party355,5850.40000
Brazilian Republican Party301,1620.34010
Progressive Republican Party170,2570.19000
Brazilian Communist Party68,1990.08000
National Ecologic Party65,5970.0700New
Party of National Mobilization57,9110.0600–1
Brazilian Labour Renewal Party38,4290.04000
Christian Social Democratic Party31,0110.03000
Free Fatherland Party29,3660.0300New
Christian Labour Party21,9930.02000
Social Christian Party19,2860.0200–1
Labour Party of Brazil11,3000.01000
Workers' Cause Party8,5610.01000
National Labour Party2,7410.00000
Total89,351,604100.0027810
Valid votes89,351,60477.76
Invalid votes14,153,69812.32
Blank votes11,401,2809.92
Total votes114,906,582100.00
Registered voters/turnout142,384,19380.70
Source: Election Resources

Aftermath

The small difference between the votes of both candidates, around 3.5 million, made this election to be the most disputed of Brazil since the redemocratization. Dilma was sworn in as 36th President of Brazil on 1 January 2015 in a ceremony conducted by Renan Calheiros in the floor of the Chamber of Deputies.

International reaction

Swearing-in ceremony of Dilma Rousseff, in 2015.

Presidents and representatives of different countries saluted the victory of Dilma Rousseff on 26 October over Aécio Neves.

  •  Argentina - Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner used her social media to salute Dilma. In a letter directed to Dilma and published in her Facebook page, Kirchner celebrated the results of the election in Brazil which, according to her, "shows the Brazilian society reaffirming their unshakable commitment with a political project that guarantees economic growth with social inclusion". Also stated that the mutual cooperation between Brazil and Argentina would increase from this moment.
  •  Bolivia - Bolivian President Evo Morales highlighted president Dilma's victory and stated that it "represents the model of change" in Brazil and in the Latin America. "Bolivia salutes the triumph of partner Dilma. We greet the continuity of the model of change in Brazil and the region", declared the leader in Shinahota, according to the state agency ABI.
  •  El Salvador - Salvadoran President Salvador Sánchez Cerén congratulated Dilma for her victory through his Twitter account.
  •  Ecuador - Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa celebrated, in his Twitter account, the "amazing victory of Dilma in Brazil". "We salute the president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, for her today's electoral victory", commented the Ecuatorial chancellor, Ricardo Patiño, also using the social network.
  •  France - The French government greeted president Rousseff for her reelection. "France wishes to work in strict cooperation with the Brazilian government to boost the strategic partnership between both countries in all areas", declared the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The French government also remembered that the relationship with Brazil was centered in three priorities: reinforce the political dialogue about climate changes, increase commercial and investment connections, and dynamize the cooperation of university exchange programs.
  •  Germany - German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent a telegram congratulating Dilma Rousseff for her reelection, expressing in text the possibility to keep the ties between both countries. "I congratulate you for the reelection as president of Brazil. I am glad that we can keep our political and economic cooperation. In face of the challenges that both nations are facing, only together and as partners, we can overcome them", stated Merkel.
  •  Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Dilma for her reelection and stated "the victory in the polls is a proof of the popular support for her politics". In his telegram, Putin expressed that "the results of the voting showed that the people supports Dilma Rousseff's politics and looks for the economic development of the country and the strengthening of its international positions". The Russian president also rated as very good the attention Dilma gives to the "strengthening of the Russian-Brazilian strategic association".
  •  United States - American President Barack Obama congratulated Dilma and requested that the ties with Brazil should be strengthened, which, according to Obama, it was "an important ally of the United States". The American president also expressed interest to schedule a meeting to discuss the possibility to "reinforce the collaboration for the world security and the respect to human rights, as well as deepen the bilateral cooperation in areas like education, energy and, mostly, trade".
  •  Venezuela - Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro highlighted Dilma's victory in his official Twitter account, shortly after the announce of the first results. "Victory of Dilma in Brazil. Victory of the People. Victory of Lula and his legacy. Victory of the people of Latin America and Caribbean", stated in his account.

Besides chiefs of state, the international press also reverberated Dilma's victory. The New York Times in the United States highlighted the reelection on the front page of the newspaper and states that the victory "endosses a leftist leader who has achieved important gains in reducing poverty and keeping unemployment low"; Argentine El Clarín highlighted on the front page that Dilma won by a narrow margin "at the end of a tough campaign, full of denounced and mutual accusations"; for the United Kingdom Financial Times, "Dilma now faces the task of uniting a country divided by the most aggressive campaign of recent times, to resurrect a creeping economy and pacify hostile markets"; Venezuelan El Universal highlighted on its first page Aécio Neves' reaction, who acknowledged his defeated and highlighted in his speech that "the priority now is to unite Brazil"; French Le Monde mentioned the defeat in São Paulo, main electoral college of the country, but "compensated by the victory in Minas Gerais, the second largest electoral college and Aécio Neves' political fief"; Spanish El País brings as a highlight an article signed by journalist Juan Arais, from Rio de Janeiro, entitled "The political change in Brazil will have to wait".

Crisis

Percentage change of Brazil's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. It is notice the low growth in 2014 and severe drops in the following years.

From 2014 and on, right after the results of the elections, an economic crisis began in Brazil, having as a consequence the strong economic recession, succeeded by a retreat of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2 consecutive years. The economy reduced in around 3.8% in 2015 and 3.6% in 2016. The crisis also brought a high level of unemployment, which reached its peak in March 2017, with a rate of 13.7%, representing more than 14 million Brazilians unemployed.

In 2016, the effects of the economic crisis were widely felt by the population, who needed to adapt their bills to the financial reality. According to a research made by the Industry National Confederation (CNI) in that year, almost half of the interviewed (48%) began to use more public transportation and 34% don't have a health insurance anymore. The deepening of the crisis made 14% of the families to change their children's schools, from private to public, with a percentage higher than the one verified in 2012 and 2013, before the crisis. Besides that, consumers change products to the cheaper ones (78%), waited for sales to buy higher value goods (80%) and saved more money for emergencies (78%).

In the first quarter of 2017, GDP rose 1%, being the first growth after 8 consecutive quarter drops. Minister of Finance Henrique Meirelles said that, in that moment, the country "left the largest recession of the century".

Protests in the Ministries Terrace of groups in favor and against the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff.

Yet in 2014 also began a political crisis. The match of this crisis happened on 17 March 2014, when the Federal Police of Brazil began a series of investigations and would be known as Operation Car Wash, initially investigating a corruption scheme and money laundry of billions of reais involving many politicians of the largest parties of the country. The operation had direct impact in the country politics, contributing for the impopularity of Dilma's administration, just as, posteriorly, for Temer's administration, as long as many of their ministers and allies were targeted of the operation, such as Geddel Vieira Lima and Romero Jucá. The operation is still ongoing with 51 operational phases and splits.

The protests against Dilma Rousseff government, due to the results of Operation Car Wash, occurred in many regions of Brazil, having as one of the main goals the impeachment of the president. The movement brought together millions of people on 15 March, 12 April, 16 August and 13 December 2015 and, according to some estimates, were the largest popular mobilizations in the country. The protest of 13 March 2016 was considered the largest political act in the history of Brazil and occurred over all the country, overcoming also Diretas Já, which occurred during the transition period from the Military Dictatorship to the redemocratization.

Rousseff's impeachment

Dilma gives her defence speech during the impeachment session that ended in her removal from office.

On 2 December 2015, president of Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo Cunha, accepted one of the seven impeachment requests against Dilma, which was registered by jurists Hélio Bicudo, Miguel Reale Júnior and Janaína Paschoal, and delivered to Cunha 2 months before. In the original request, were included denounces of decrees signed by the president in 2015, to release R$ 2.5 billions (US$ 0.75 billion), without Congress approval, nor prevision on budget. This operation is known as fiscal pedaling (Pedalada fiscal), and it's characterized as administrative misconduct.

The acceptance of the impeachment request was considered by part of the press as a retaliation against the president's party, which deputies announced on that same day that they would vote against Cunha in the Chamber's Ethics Committee, where he was investigated for a supposed participation in the scheme denounced in Operation Car Wash. Cunha denied any "bargain" relation with the government, stating that "the decision to accept the impeachment is factual, is concrete, has clear tipification", but kept attributing to president Rousseff responsibilities about the investigations against him. According to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Dilma didn't have "the will of doing politics" and didn't have any meeting with party caucuses to try to repeal the impeachment.

Result of the voting of the acceptance of the impeachment process in the Chamber of Deputies, which took the process to the Federal Senate.

Due to the parliamentary recess and the sues filed in the Supreme Federal Court with the objective to decide formally the rite of the process only on 17 March 2016, the Chamber elected, with open voting, the 65 members of the Special Committee which analyzed the impeachment request against Dilma Rousseff. There were 433 votes in favor of the committee membership and 1 against. On 11 April, the Special Committee, with 38 votes in favor and 27 against, approved the report, which defended the admissibility of the process. The report, made by deputy Jovair Arantes (PTB-GO), went for voting in the floor of the Chamber. On 17 April 2016, a Sunday, the Chamber of Deputies, with 367 votes in favor, 137 against, besides 7 abstentions and 2 absences, impeached Rousseff and authorized the Federal Senate to install the process against the president.

On 6 May 2016, the Senate Impeachment Special Committee approved, with 15 votes in favor and 5 against, the report of senator Antônio Anastasia (PSDB-MG), in favor of the impeachment. On 11 May, Justice Teori Zavascki denied a government request to null the process. With the decision, the Senate kept the voting that would decide the suspension of Rousseff from office.

On 12 May 2016, with 55 favorable votes, 22 contrary and 2 absences, the Federal Senate authorized the opening of the impeachment process, and determined her suspension from the Presidency of the Republic for up to 180 days. On 31 August, the Federal Senate, with a voting of 61 to 20, removed Rousseff from office of President, but kept her political rights. With the impeachment, Michel Temer, who was Vice President of Brazil and Acting President until that moment, took office as president until the end of the term.

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-03-18 00:39 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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