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Workers' Party (Brazil)

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"Partido dos Trabalhadores" redirects here. For the Bissau-Guinean party, seeWorkers' Party (Guinea-Bissau).
Not to be confused withBrazilian Labour Party.

Workers' Party
Partido dos Trabalhadores
AbbreviationPT
PresidentGleisi Hoffmann
Vice PresidentWashington Quaquá
Honorary PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Founded10 February 1980;44 years ago(1980-02-10)
Registered11 February 1982(1982-02-11)
Headquarters
NewspaperFocus Brasil[1]
Think tankFundação Perseu Abramo[2]
Student wingJuventude do PT[3]
Membership(2024)Increase1,608,140[4]
Ideology
Political position
National affiliationBrazil of Hope
Regional affiliationSão Paulo Forum
COPPPAL
International affiliationProgressive Alliance[21]
ColorsRedWhite
TSEIdentification Number13
Governorships
4 / 27
Mayors
182 / 5,570[22]
Federal Senate
9 / 81
Chamber of Deputies
69 / 513
Mercosur Parliament
5 / 38
State Assemblies
83 / 1,024
City Councillors
2,665 / 56,810[22]
Party flag
Flag of the Workers' Party
Website
pt.org.br
^A:A broad left-wing faction, it includes somefar-left[23]factions.
Part ofa serieson
Social democracy
History
Concepts
Variants
People
Organizations
By region
Related
Part ofa serieson
Progressivism
History
Ideas
People
By region
Related

TheWorkers' Party(Portuguese:Partido dos Trabalhadores,PT) is acentre-left[24][25]political partyinBrazilthat is currently the country's ruling party. Some scholars classify its ideology in the 21st century associal democracy,with the party shifting from a broadlysocialistideology in the 1990s,[5]although the party retains aleft-wing[26][27]and marginal far-left faction to this day.[23]Founded in 1980, PT governed at the federal level in acoalition governmentwith several other parties from 1 January 2003 to 31 August 2016. After the2002 parliamentary election,PT became the largest party in theChamber of Deputiesand the largest in theFederal Senatefor the first time.[28]With the highest approval rating in the history of the country at one time, PresidentLuiz Inácio Lula da Silvawas PT's most prominent member.[29]Dilma Rousseff,also a member of PT, was elected twice (first on 31 October 2010, and then again on 26 October 2014) but did not finish her second term due toher impeachment in 2016.The party came back to power with Lula's victory in the2022 presidential election.

Both born among the opposition to the1964coup d'étatand the subsequentmilitary dictatorship,PT and theBrazilian Social Democracy Party(PSDB) were the biggest adversaries in contemporaryBrazilian politicsfrom 1994 to 2014, with their candidates finishing either first or second on the ballot in each presidential election in that period. The Worker's Party won five presidential elections since thecountry reinstated democracy,and came in second in every other election held in that time.

The party has been involved in anumber of corruption scandalssince Lula first came to power and saw its popular support plummet between 2015 and 2020, with presidential approval ratings falling from over 80% to 9%[30]and successive reductions in all elected offices since 2014.[31][32]The2022 general electionmarked a turning point in that trajectory.

The party symbols are a five-pointedred starinscribed with the initials "PT" in the center; ared flagwith a white star also with the initials in the center; and the Workers Party's anthem.[33]ItsSuperior Electoral Court(TSE) identification number is 13. Members and sympathisers of the party are known as "Petistas".

History

[edit]
Lula, at the time aFederal Deputy,makes a speech at the1988 Brazilian Constituent Assembly

The Workers' Party was launched by a heterogeneous group made up of militants opposed to Brazil's military government, trade unionists, left-wing intellectuals and artists and Catholics linked to theliberation theology[34]on 10 February 1980 at Colégio Sion inSão Paulo,a private Catholic school for girls.[35]The party emerged as a result of the approach between the labor movements in theABC Regionsuch as the Conferência das Classes Trabalhadoras (Conclat), later developed into theCentral Única dos Trabalhadores(CUT) which carried major strikes from 1978 to 1980; and the old Brazilian left-wing, whose proponents, many of whom were journalists, intellectuals, artists and union organizers, were returning from exile with the 1979 Amnesty law, many of them having endured imprisonment and torture at the hands of the military regime[36]in addition to years of exile.[35]Dilma Rousseffherself was imprisoned and tortured by the dictatorship.[37]

PT was born by historical need. PT is not an accident. The future of Brazil goes through a party with the same program as PT, under any name whatsoever, under any leader whomsoever.

— Claudio Solano, journalist

PT was launched under ademocratic socialismtrend.[38]After the1964coup d'état,Brazil's main federation of labor unions, the General Command of Workers (Comando Geral dos Trabalhadores– CGT), which gathered leaders approved by theMinistry of Laboursince its formation, a practice tied to the fact that sinceGetúlio Vargas' dictatorship, unions had become quasi-state entities, was dissolved while unions themselves suffered intervention of the military regime.

Workers' Party regional branch inBelo Horizonte,Minas Gerais

The resurgence of an organized labour movement, evidenced by strikes in theABC Regionon the late 1970s led byLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva,enabled the reorganization of the labour movement without the direct interference of the state. The movement originally sought to act exclusively in union politics, but the survival of a conservative unionism under the domination of the state (evidenced in the refoundation of CGT) and the influence exercised over the trade union movement by leaders of traditional left-wing parties, such as theBrazilian Communist Party(Partido Comunista Brasileiro,PCB), forced the unionist movement of ABC, encouraged byanti-Stalinistleaders, to organize its own party.

PT was officially recognized as a party by theBrazilian Supreme Electoral Courton 11 February 1982.[39]The first membership card belonged to art critic and formerTrotskyistactivist Mário Pedrosa, followed by literary scholarAntonio Candidoand historianSérgio Buarque de Holanda.[40]Holanda's daughter Ana de Holanda later becameMinister of Culturein the Rousseff cabinet.

Electoral history

[edit]
Presidential elections againstPSDBbetween 1994 and 2014

Since 1988, the Workers' Party has grown in popularity on the national stage by winning the elections in many of the largest Brazilian cities, such asSão Paulo,Fortaleza,Belo Horizonte,Porto AlegreandGoiâniaas well as in some important states, such asRio Grande do Sul,Espírito Santo and theFederal District.During the time it governedPorto Alegre,it implemented measures such as a progressive tax reform, involving the rich being taxed more highly to fund basic services for the poor, and the development of new institutions of genuine popular participation which gave, according to one study, "real decision-making power to civil society and involving a large number of civil organizations – from neighbourhood groups to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and from cultural groups to education, health and housing pressure groups – in running the city."[41]

This winning streak culminated with the victory of its presidential candidate Lula in 2002 who succeededFernando Henrique Cardosoof theBrazilian Social Democracy Party(Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira –PSDB). For its defense ofeconomic liberalism,PSDB is the party's main electoral rival as well as theDemocrats,heir of theNational Renewal Alliance(Aliança Renovadora Nacional –ARENA), ruling party during themilitary dictatorship.Along with thePopular Socialist Party(Partido Popular Socialista –PPS), a dissidence of PCB, they have been said to form the centre-right opposition to the Lula administration.

1989 presidential elections

Main article:1989 Brazilian presidential election

In the 1989 general elections, Lula went to the second round withFernando Collor de Mello.Even though all centrist and left-wing candidates of the first round united around Lula's candidacy, Collor's campaign was strongly supported by the mass media (notablyRede Globoas seen on the documentaryBeyond Citizen Kane) and Lula lost in the second round by a close margin of 5.7%.[42][43]

1994 and 1998 general elections

Main articles:1994 Brazilian general electionand1998 Brazilian general election

Leading up to the 1994 general elections, Lula was the leading presidential candidate in the majority of polls. As a result, centrist and right-wing parties openly united forFernando Henrique Cardoso's candidacy. As Minister of Economy, Cardoso created theReal Plan,which established thenew currencyand subsequently ended inflation and provided economic stability. As a result, Cardoso won the election in the first round with 54% of the votes. However, it has been noted that "the elections were not a complete disaster for PT, which significantly increased its presence in the Congress and elected for the first time two state governors".[44]Cardoso would once again beat Lula in a rematch and re-elected for a second term in 1998.

2002 general elections

Main article:2002 Brazilian general election

After the detrition of PSDB's image and as a result of an economic crisis that burst in the final years of Cardoso's government, Lula won the 2002 presidential election in the second round.

2006 general elections

Main article:2006 Brazilian general election

On 29 October 2006, PT won 83 seats in theChamber of Deputiesand 11 seats in theFederal Senate.Lula was re-elected with more than 60% of the votes, extending his position asPresident of Braziluntil 1 January 2011.[45]

PT was now the second largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, the fourth largest party in the Federal Senate and has five state governorships. However, it only gained control of one among the ten richest states (Bahia).

2010 general elections

Main article:2010 Brazilian general election
PT as a black cat chasing a toucan (PSDB's mascot) byCarlos Latuff

In the 2010 general elections held on 3 October, PT gained control of 17.15% of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies, a record for the party since 2002. With 88 seats gained, it became the largest party in the lower chamber for the first time ever. PT also became the second largest party in the Federal Senate for the first time after electing of 11 senators, making a total of 14 senators for the 2010–2014 legislature.Its national coalitiongained control of 311 seats in the lower house and 50 seats in the upper house, a broad majority in both houses which the Lula administration never had. This election also saw the decrease in the number of seats controlled by thecentre-right opposition blocas it shrank from 133 to 111 deputies. The left-wing opposition, formed by PSOL, retained control of three seats.

The party was also expected to elect its presidential candidateDilma Rousseffin the first round. However, she was not able to receive the necessary number of valid votes (over 50%) and a second round in which she scored 56% of the votes took place on 31 October 2010. On 1 January 2011, she was inaugurated and thus became the first femalehead of governmentever in thehistory of Braziland the firstde factofemalehead of statesince the death in 1816 ofMaria I,Queen of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.

In the 2010 elections, PT retained control of the governorships of Bahia,SergipeandAcre,in addition to gaining back control of Rio Grande do Sul and the Federal District. Nevertheless, it lost control ofPará.Candidates supported by the party won the race inAmapá,Ceará,Espírito Santo,Maranhão,Mato Grosso,Pernambuco,PiauíandRio de Janeiro,which means that PT would participate in 13 out of 27 state governorships.

2014 general elections

Main article:2014 Brazilian general election

In the 2014 general elections held on 5 October, the party won 13.9% of the vote and 69 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, down from the 88 seats they gained in 2010. In the first round of the presidential election, Rousseff won 41.6% of the vote but not enough to secure a victory.[46]In the run-off on 26 October, Rousseff was re-elected with a narrow victory with 51.6% of the vote against SenatorAécio Neves.

Cabinet representation

[edit]

PT enjoyed strong representation in the cabinets it led for most of the time that it was in office. PT held the majority of cabinet positions in the first two coalitions, with its occupation of ministerial positions comprising 60% in the first coalition,[47][48]54.8% in the second coalition and 46.5% in the third coalition.[49]

Ideology

[edit]
Main article:Socialism in Brazil
Demonstration of theCentral Única dos Trabalhadores(CUT) — Brazil's largestnational trade union center— inBrasília.Both CUT and PT share the same origin and both organizations maintain a strong connection

Although PT deliberately never identified itself with a particular brand of leftism, it nevertheless "always defined itself as socialist" and espoused many radical positions.[22]For example, at theBrazilian Constituent Assembly of 1988it advocated repudiation of Brazil'sexternal debt,nationalization of the country's banks and mineral wealth and a radicalland reform.[22]In addition, as a form of protest and as a signal that the party did not fully accept the "rules of the game" PT's delegates refused to sign the draft constitution.[22]

Over the next few years, the party moderated a bit, but it never clearly shed its radicalism and undertook no major reforms of party principles even after Lula's defeat in the1989 presidential elections.[22]For example, the resolution from the party's 8th National Meeting in 1993 reaffirmed PT's "revolutionary and socialist character", condemned the "conspiracy" of the elites to subvert democracy, stated that the party advocated "radical agrarian reform and suspension of the external debt" and concluded that "capitalism and private property cannot provide a future for humanity".[22]

Activists of theLandless Workers' Movement,one of the main social movements linked to the Worker's Party

In 1994, Lula ran for the presidency again and during his campaign dismissedFernando Henrique Cardoso's recently implemented Real Plan as an "electoral swindle".[22]The resolutions from the 1994 National Meeting condemned the "control by the dominant classes over the means of production" and reaffirmed the party's "commitment to socialism".[22]PT's Program of Government that year also committed the party to "anti-monopolist, anti-latifúndio,and anti-imperialist change [...] as part of a long-term strategy to construct an alternative to capitalism ", statements that" sent shivers down the spine of the international financial community ". Thus, as of 1995" little or nothing "had changed in PT's official ideology since the early 1990s.[22]

After Lula's 1994 loss, the party began a slow process of self-examination.[22]The resolution adopted at its 10th National Meeting in 1995 stated that "our 1994 defeat invites a cruel reflection about our image in society, about the external impact of our internal battles, [and] about our ideological and political ambiguities".[22]The move from self-examination did not involve a clean break with the past as in other socialist parties after the end of the Cold War.[22]The process was gradual, full of contradictions and replete with intra-party tension.[22]By 1997, the National Meeting resolution redefined PT's version of socialism as a "democratic revolution", emphasizing a political rather than economic vision of socialism that aimed to make the state "more transparent and socially accountable".[22]

Lula's third presidential campaign platform in 1998 cut socialist proposals and even the mention of a transition to a socialist society, but the party's self-definition remained highly ambiguous as the resolution from the party's Meeting that year affirmed that Lula's platform "should not be confused with the socialist program of PT".[22]Thus, while PT had begun to distance itself from its original socialist rhetoric and proposals by 1998, a clearer shift did not occur until after Lula lost again that year and after Lula and his group had more fully digested the impact of Brazil's changing political context and of Cardoso's economic reforms.[22]

During Lula's fourth presidential run in 2002, the transition away from overt left-wing policies was fully cemented, and in a document known as theLetter to the Brazilian People,Lula committed himself and his party to the reform of taxes and pensions, and to promoting economic growth.[50]He also accepted some of the liberal reforms from the Cardoso government, meaning that the party program was nowde factocentre-left and social democratic in its ideology. Lula won the 2002 election in a landslide. However, some of the more left-wing factions of the party were critical of this turn toward the center and later left to form new left-wing parties like theSocialism and Liberty Party.

The party has a strong left-wing Catholic faction, and the Catholic left is considered the leading force behind the creation of the party, together with the Marxist left and 'new unionism'. Catholic grassroots communities known as CEBs became widespread in Brazil and became the backbone of organization development of the PT in rural peripheries and rural areas, where the party relied on its Catholic faction to provide structural network. Whereas the party was considered a 'vehicle' for social change, supportive Catholic communities were "gasoline stations". The socialism of PT appealed to the Brazilian Catholic left, who was heavily influenced byliberation theologyand believed that Marxism andPolitical Catholicismcomplemented one another. One of pro-PT Catholic priests,Frei Betto,declared in 1986: "A real Christian is a communist, and a real communist a Christian."[51]

Thanks to its large grassroots base, the Catholic left allowed PT to expand en masse and influenced the ideology of the party, as the Catholic factions provided meeting places for PT nuclei and engaged in "political consciousness-raising" amongst the rural population. Because of this, the pastoral work of the Catholic Church is considered to have been "fundamental for the PT's achieving a truly national character". One of the co-founders of PT, Hamilton Pereira, wrote that thanks to its Catholic origins, the party "became a party that [brought] along the various expressions of Brazil". Lula also stated several times that the Catholic left played a more important role in the PT than trade unions.[51]The Workers' Party was the only party in Brazil able to develop such close relations with the Catholic Church.[17]

The PT is also influenced byliberation theology,considered an important factor in the creation of the party.[20]Peter Flynn in theThird World Quarterlywrote that the party is closely linked to liberation theology, and its liberation Catholic faction was an important contribution towards the party's victory in the2002 Brazilian general election.[19]The liberation theology faction of the party is also regularly included in the party's cabinet appointment. Liberationist bishopMauro Morelliserved as president of the National Council for Food Security, and later became a political advisor of Lula. The PT mayor and Catholic lawyerPatrus Ananiasbecame famous through his administration inBelo Horizonte,which became distinguished for its church-coordinated work against hunger and poverty. Liberation theologist Frei Betto also served as Lula's special adviser, and the faction also played a crucial role in the education policy of the party and the 2010 anti-corruption "clean slate" law.[18]Major liberation theology figures such asLeonardo Boffbecame supporters of the party.[52]The PT's close relationship with Brazil's progressive Catholic Church continues to influence the rherotic of the party, with its politicians referring concepts from liberation theology.[53]

Electoral history

[edit]

Presidential elections

[edit]
Election Candidate Running mate Coalition First round Second round Result
Votes % Votes %
1989 Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva(PT) José Paulo Bisol(PSB) PT;PSB;PCdoB 11,622,673 16.1% (#2) 31,076,364 47.0% (#2) LostRed XN
1994 Aloizio Mercadante(PT) PT;PSB;PCdoB;PPS;PV;PSTU 17,122,127 27.0% (#2) – – LostRed XN
1998 Leonel Brizola(PDT) PT;PDT;PSB;PCdoB;PCB 21,475,211 31.7% (#2) – – LostRed XN
2002 José Alencar(PL) PT;PL;PCdoB;PMN;PCB 39,455,233 46.4% (#1) 52,793,364 61.3% (#1) ElectedGreen tickY
2006 José Alencar(PRB) PT;PRB;PCdoB 46,662,365 48.6% (#1) 58,295,042 60.8% (#1) ElectedGreen tickY
2010 Dilma Rousseff(PT) Michel Temer(PMDB) PT;PMDB;PR;PSB;PDT;PCdoB;PSC;PRB;PTC;PTN 47,651,434 46.9% (#1) 55,752,529 56.1% (#1) ElectedGreen tickY
2014 PT;PMDB;PSD;PP;PR;PDT;PRB;PROS;PCdoB 43,267,668 41.6% (#1) 54,501,118 51.6% (#1) ElectedGreen tickY
2018 Fernando Haddad(PT) Manuela d'Ávila(PCdoB) PT;PCdoB;PROS 31,341,997 29.3% (#2) 47,040,380 44.8% (#2) LostRed XN
2022 Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva(PT) Geraldo Alckmin(PSB) PT;PCdoB;PV;PSOL;REDE;PSB;Solidariedade;Avante;Agir 57,259,405 48.4% (#1) 60,325,504 50.9% (#1) ElectedGreen tickY
Source:Election Resources: Federal Elections in Brazil – Results Lookup

Chamber of Deputies and Senate elections

[edit]
Election Chamber of Deputies Federal Senate Status
Votes % Seats +/– Votes % Seats +/–
1982 1,458,719 3.5
8 / 479
 Increase8 1,538,786 3.6
0 / 25
 Steady Opposition
1986 3,253,999 6.9
16 / 487
 Increase8 – –
0 / 49
 Steady Opposition
1990 4,128,052 10.2
35 / 502
 Increase19 – –
1 / 31
 Increase1 Opposition
1994 5,959,854 13.1
49 / 513
 Increase14 13,198,319 13.8
4 / 54
 Increase3 Opposition
1998 8,786,528 13.2
58 / 513
 Increase9 11,392,662 18.4
7 / 81
 Increase3 Opposition
2002 16,094,080 18.4
91 / 513
 Increase33 32,739,665 21.3
14 / 81
 Increase7 Coalition
2006 13,989,859 15.0
83 / 513
 Decrease8 16,222,159 19.2
10 / 81
 Decrease4 Coalition
2010 16,289,199 16.9
88 / 513
 Increase5 39,410,141 23.1
15 / 81
 Increase5 Coalition
2014 13,554,166 14.0
68 / 513
 Decrease20 15,155,818 17.0
12 / 81
 Decrease3 Coalition (2014–2016)
Opposition (2016–2018)
2018 10,126,611 10.3
56 / 513
 Decrease12 24,785,670 14.5
6 / 81
 Decrease6 Opposition
2022 15,354,125[a] 13.9
69 / 513
 Increase13 12,456,553 12.2
9 / 81
 Increase3 Coalition
Sources:Georgetown University,Election Resources,Rio de Janeiro State University
  1. ^Votes obtained as part ofBrazil of Hopecoalition.

Voter base

[edit]

Most of the Workers' Party votes in presidential elections since 2006 stems from theNorthandNortheastregions of Brazil. Nevertheless, the party has always won every presidential election inRio de Janeirofrom 1998 to 2014, theFederal Districtfrom 1989 to 2010 (with the exception in 1998 when Cardoso won there) and inMinas Geraisfrom 2002 to 2014 (these are two of the three largest states by number of voters and together they comprise 18.5% of voters). The party also maintains a stronghold in the southernmost state ofRio Grande do Sul,where it has won continuously since the second round of 1989 until 2002.

PT supporters in the 2018 election. The banner in the front says "Lulais arrested unfairly ".

Most of PT's rejection comes fromSão Pauloas it has won elections there only once in 2002 (both rounds). The historical PT rejection in São Paulo was more widespread in interior than the capital as PT won the 1988, 2000 and 2012São Paulomayoral election and was a major force in his homeland, theGreater São Paulo.Despite this, the party lost its support even in the region and has not won any electoral zone in the capital in 2016 municipal elections.Fernando Haddad,the candidate seeking reelection, stayed in a distant second place, with 36 percentual points below the winnerJoão Doria.PT managed to win in only one city of the region, the small and distant municipality ofFranco da Rocha.PT is also strongly rejected in other states of theCenter-South,such asRio de Janeiro,which until2018had voted in the Workers Party presidential candidates in all new republic elections except 1994, the party shows strong difficulties to make representatives in federal, state and municipal levels. The party never elected a mayor in thecapital of the state,never elected a governor (Benedita da Silva,the sole governor of the state from the party, took over because the resignation of the titularAnthony Garotinhoin 2002, which her party had broken some years early, and was massive defeated in the same year's election by the Garotinho's wifeRosângela Matheus) and is often overturned in elections by left-wing parties with much less weight in national elections. The triumphs in the state were more associated with a strong rejection of PSDB in the state (which is even more weak and rejected despite his national strength) than a support of PT's program. In 2018 presidential elections, PT lost in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo with similar percentages in both states, with a difference of only 0.02% less percent of valid votes to the party in São Paulo. Despite being asoutheasternstate, many regions of Minas Gerais, especially in the north region of the state, had strong economic, cultural and socially ties with the Northeast.São Francisco River,a symbol of the Northeast, has its source in a small city of Minas,Pirapora.With the exception of Rio Grande do Sul, Distrito Federal, andEspírito SantoPT never gets an elected governor in the Center-south until 2014, whenFernando Damata Pimentelwas elected governor of Minas Gerais.

PT had a strong electoral stronghold in North Brazil and in the Amazonian region; The party triumphed in every state governorship inAcrefrom 1990 to 2018. However, the Acre section of the party is far more independent and moderate than the rest of the party and PT had only won the presidential election in the state twice in 2002 and 2006. PT also lost the governorship of Acre in 2018 to a candidate from right-wingProgressive Party.Roraima,which the impact of the controversy about theindigenous territoryofRaposa Serra do Sol,which former President Lula gave strong support despite the opposition of the non-indigenous people; andRondonia,which had a large population of evangelicals and south/southeastern migrants, also show reservations about the party. The electoral stronghold was also lost in 2018 elections; PT only triumphed in the states ofParáandTocantins,the only states in the region which borders Brazilian Northeast and much of their culture is near from Northwest than the rest of Amazon. In Amazonas, the largest Brazilian states, PT lost in 2018 for the first time since 1998; PT lost in the capital of the state,Manaus,afree zonewhich concentrates more than the half of the population of the state; in the large, sparsely inhabited interior of the Amazonian state, PT win by a large margin but insufficient to guarantee the fifth triumph of the party in the state on presidential election.

PT, however, maintained and expanded his stronghold in Northeast Brazil, conquered in Lula first elections in 2002. Since 2002, the only time that a state other than these which did not vote in PT in a presidential election was Alagoas in both rounds of 2002 presidential elections. PT and its allies was able to make big gains in north and northeast regions of Brazil even in times which the party was in crisis, like in the last mayoral elections. PT's most loyal party PCdoB and former alliesBrazilian Socialist Party(Partido Socialista Brasileiro− PSB) andDemocratic Labour Party(Partido Democrático Trabalhista− PDT) made huge gains in region together with PT in the Lula−Rousseff era. PCdoB is now the strongest party inMaranhãostate and was able to elect the mayor ofAracaju,Sergipe;PSB is now the strongest party in the states ofPernambucoandParaíba;and PDT was able to triumph in three capitals of the northeastern. Despite losing all capitals in northwest, PT had the governorships of three northwestern states,Piauí,BahiaandCeará.The governorship of Bahia, conquered in 2006, is symbolical. The party was a stronghold ofLiberal Front Party(Partido da Frente Liberal− PFL), nowDemocrats(Democratas− DEM), the greatest ideological rival of PT in national level. PSDB is a strongest party and headed all presidential tickets which PFL/DEM participated since 1994, but the origin of PSDB resembling with the origins PT as a leftist opposition to the dictatorship, and the parties had strong links until PSDB broke with PT and join in a coalition with PFL, a right-wing party with strong fiscal conservative views, associated with theBrazilian military regimein 1993 and the homeland ofAntônio Carlos Magalhães,the strongest leadership of PFL and a fierce foe of PT. Bahia is now the main stronghold of PT, the most reliable state for the Petismo and is considered a governance model to the party. Despite this, the state's capitalSalvadoris governed byACM Neto,a leading member ofDEMand grandson of Antonio Carlos Magalhães.

The party is often accused of exploiting the North–South divide in Brazil to gain votes in the northeast. The party denies the claims and accuses the opposition to do the same in the South and Southeast.

According to a poll conducted by IBOPE on 31 October 2010, during the second round voting PT's candidate Dilma Rousseff had an overwhelming majority of votes among the poorest Brazilians.[54]Her lead was of 26% among those who earned aminimum wageor less per month.[54]Rousseff also had the majority of votes among Catholics (58%), blacks (65%) and mixed-race Brazilians (60%).[54]Amongst whites and Protestants, she wasstatistically tietoJosé Serraand her lead was of only 4% on both demographic groups.[54]Even though she was the first female candidate in a major party, her votes amongst men was wider than amongst women.[54]

Controversies

[edit]
See also:List of scandals in Brazil

2003–2007 internal crisis and split

[edit]

The changes in the political orientation of PT (from a left-wing socialist to a centre-leftsocial-democraticparty) after Lula was elected president were well received by many in the population, but as a historically more radical party, the PT has experienced a series of internal struggles with members who have refused to embrace the new political positions of the party. These struggles have fueled public debates, the worst of which had its climax in December 2003, when four dissident legislators were expelled from the party for voting against Social Insurance Reform.[55]Among these members were congressmanJoão Batista Oliveira de Araujo(known as Babá) and senatorHeloísa Helena,who formed theSocialism and Liberty Party(Partido Socialismo e Liberdade− PSOL) in June 2004 and ran for president in 2006, becoming at the time the woman who had garnered the most votes in Brazilian history.

In another move, 112 members of the radical wing of the party announced they were abandoning PT in theWorld Social ForuminPorto Alegreon 30 January 2005. They also published amanifestoentitledManifesto of the Rupturethat states that PT "is no longer an instrument of social transformation, but only an instrument of the status quo", continuing with references to theInternational Monetary Fundand other economic and social issues.

BANCOOP scandal

[edit]

This scandal, called theBANCOOP case,includedJoão Vaccari Netoand four other directors of the housing cooperative. The cooperative received government contracts and had multi-million real revenue. The cooperative was found to have illegally padded the service contracts by 20%, with many of the contracts going unfulfilled. The cooperative eventually folded with a deficit of over R$100 million, requiring liquidation of assets to minimize the loss by members.

2006 electoral scandal

[edit]

This scandal unfolded around September 2006, just two weeks before general elections. As a result, Berzoini left the coordination of Lula's re-election after allegedly using PT's budget (which is partially state-funded through party allowances) to purchase, from a confessed fraudster, a dossier that would be used to attack political adversaries. On 25 April 2007, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal unanimously cleared Lula of any responsibility for this scandal.[56]

Mensalão scandal

[edit]
Main article:Mensalão scandal

In July 2005, members of the party suffered asequence of corruption accusations,started by a deputy of theBrazilian Labour Party(Partido Trabalhista Brasileiro –PTB),Roberto Jefferson.[57]Serious evidence for slush funding and bribes-for-votes were presented, dragging PT to the most serious crisis in its history, known colloquially as theMensalão.José Genoínoresigned as president of the party and was replaced byTarso Genro,former mayor of Porto Alegre. A small minority of party members defected as a result of the crisis. Most of them went to PSOL.

Lava Jato scandal

[edit]
Main article:Operation Car Wash

The investigation of a series of crimes, such corruption and money laundering, led to the arrest of the party's treasurer João Vaccari Neto and his sister-in-law. José Genoino, José Dirceu, Delcídio do Amaral, André Vargas and Delúbio Soares were also arrested in the process. Most recently, former President Lula was arrested in April 2018.[58]However, in March 2021, theSupreme Federal Courtoverturned all the convictions.[59]This came after leaks which suggested that Judge Sérgio Moro had conspired with the prosecution.[60]

Organization

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Since its inception the party has been led by the following:

Factions

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There are about thirtyfactions(tendências) within PT, ranging from Articulação, the centre-left group that Lula is a part of, toMarxistsandChristian socialists.

Tendencies integrating the Building a New Brazil field

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Considered the right-wing of the party, i.e. going from centre to centre-left.

  • Articulation - Unity on Struggle (AUNL)
  • PT Movement
  • Radical Democracy (DR)

Tendencies categorized as the left-wing of the party

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  • The Work[pt](O Trabalho, OT)
  • Left-wing Articulation (AE)
  • Socialist Democracy(DS)
  • Socialist Brazil (BS)
  • Democratic Left (ED)
  • Popular Socialist Left (EPS)
  • Socialist Resistance (RS)

Former factions

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Famous members

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Its members are known aspetistas,from the Portuguese acronym PT.

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Revista Focus Brasil"(in Brazilian Portuguese).
  2. ^"Página inicial - com gutenberg".Fundação Perseu Abramo.RetrievedSeptember 6,2023.
  3. ^"Juventude do PT".pt.org.br(in Brazilian Portuguese).
  4. ^"Estatísticas de filiação"[Membership Statistics].sig.tse.jus.br(in Portuguese).
  5. ^abSamuels, David (2004)."From Socialism to Social Democracy: Party Organization and the Transformation of the Workers' Party in Brazil".Comparative Political Studies.37(9): 999–1024.doi:10.1177/0010414004268856.ISSN0010-4140.S2CID10001704.
  6. ^"Is Social Democracy Possible in Latin America?".RetrievedDecember 29,2021.
  7. ^"Guidelines for soy don't protect tropical forests in Brazil".Futurity.November 2, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 11,2023.Voters chose between the conservative Jair Bolsonaro and the liberal Lula da Silva.
  8. ^Liisa L. North, Timothy D. Clark, ed. (2017).Dominant Elites in Latin America: From Neo-Liberalism to the 'Pink Tide'.Springer.p. 212.ISBN9783319532554.In Brazil, as Simone Bohn makes straightforward (Chap. 3), the progressive Workers' Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT) governments did not threaten the power of the national elite or landlord class;...
  9. ^"Proposta do PT é" populista' e "estúpida", diz Dornbusch "[PT's proposal is "populist" and "stupid", says Dornbusch].Folha de S.Paulo(in Brazilian Portuguese).
  10. ^Cattan, Nacha; Biller, David (October 31, 2017)."These Elections Could Reshape Latin America".Bloomberg.RetrievedSeptember 1,2017.
  11. ^Singer, André (2009)."Raízes sociais e ideológicas do lulismo"[Social and ideological roots of Lulism].Novos Estudos - CEBRAP(in Brazilian Portuguese) (85): 83–102.doi:10.1590/S0101-33002009000300004.
  12. ^Busky, Donald F. (2000).Democratic Socialism: A Global Survey.Greenwood Publishing.ISBN9780275968861.
  13. ^Uribe, Gustavo; Herédia, Thais (September 21, 2016)."Apesar de resistência do PT, Lula quer participação de Meirelles em eventual governo, dizem aliados"[Despite PT's resistance, Lula wantsMeirellesto participate in an eventual government, say allies].CNN Brazil(in Brazilian Portuguese).RetrievedOctober 28,2022.
  14. ^
    • Amaral, Oswaldo E. do.A estrela não é mais vermelha: as mudanças do programa petista nos anos 1990(in Brazilian Portuguese). São Paulo, Garçoni, 2003.
    • Gadotti, M.; Pereira, O.Pra que PT:Origem, Projeto e Consolidação do Partido dos Trabalhadores (in Brazilian Portuguese). São Paulo, Cortez, 1989.
    • Keck, Margareth E.PT: a lógica da diferença: o Partido dos Trabalhadores na construção da democracia brasileira(in Brazilian Portuguese). São Paulo, Ática, 1991.
    • Singer, André.Raizes sociais e ideológicas do lulismo(in Brazilian Portuguese). Revista Novos Estudos CEBRAP, n. 85, nov. 2009.
  15. ^van Dyck, Brandon Philip (2014).The Paradox of Adversity: New Left Party Survival and Collapse in Latin America.Harvard University. pp. 112–113.
  16. ^Machado, Adriano Henriques (2010).Os católicos oPTaram?: os "setores católicos" e o Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) na grande São Paulo (1978-1982)(in Portuguese). p. 60.
  17. ^abSmith, Amy Erica (2019).Religion and Brazilian Democracy: Mobilizing the People of God.Cambridge University Press. p. 8.doi:10.1017/9781108699655.ISBN978-1-108-48211-0.
  18. ^abKnoll, Travis (2019). "Seeking Liberation in Brazil".NACLA Report on the Americas.51(3): 229–230.doi:10.1080/10714839.2019.1650483.ISSN2471-2620.
  19. ^abFlynn, Peter (2005). "Brazil and Lula, 2005: crisis, corruption and change in political perspective".Third World Quarterly.26(8). Routledge: 1221–1267.doi:10.1080/01436590500400025.ISSN1360-2241.
  20. ^abHeidi Moksnes; Mia Melin (2013).Faith in Civil Society: Religious Actors as Drivers of Change.Uppsala: Uppsala Centre for Sustainable Development. p. 125.ISBN978-91-980391-4-6.ISSN1403-1264.
  21. ^"Participants of the Denpasar Seminar, 19 – 20 September 2016 - Progressive Alliance".September 22, 2016.RetrievedNovember 22,2016.
  22. ^abcdefghijklmnopqConvocação: Dia Nacional de Mobilização Dilma Presidente 27 DE OUTUBROArchivedJuly 6, 2011, at theWayback Machine,Secretaria de cultura do PT-DF, 22 October 2010
  23. ^abJulien Figeac; Nathalie Paton; Angelina Peralva; Arthur Coelho Bezerra; Guillaume Cabanac; Héloïse Prévost; Pierre Ratinaud; Tristan Salord (2021). "Brazilian left-wing activists on Facebook: the role of cultural events in political participation".Brasiliana: Journal for Brazilian Studies.10(1): 263.doi:10.25160/bjbs.v10i1.125719.ISSN2245-4373.
  24. ^Gallas, Daniel (29 March 2016)."Dilma Rousseff and Brazil face up to decisive month".BBC News.Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  25. ^""Dilma é muito mais de esquerda do que eu", afirma Lula "[ "Dilma is much more leftist than me", says Lula].Jornal O Sul(in Brazilian Portuguese). January 20, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon December 1, 2019.RetrievedOctober 28,2022.
  26. ^The demise of Brazil's great centrist party.The Economist.Published 1 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  27. ^Khan, Shehab (14 November 2018).Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right president-elect accused of campaign funding irregularities.The Independent.Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  28. ^"PT elege maior bancada na Câmara e a segunda do Senado"ArchivedJuly 21, 2011, at theWayback Machine.[PT elects the largest group in the Chamber and the second in the Senate].JusBrasil(in Brazilian Portuguese).5 October 2010.
  29. ^Rabello, Maria Luiza."Lula's Chosen Heir Surges in Brazil Presidential Poll"[dead link].Business Week.1 February 2010.
  30. ^"As cinco piores taxas de popularidade dos presidentes do Brasil".[The five worst popularity ratings of Brazilian presidents].Veja(in Brazilian Portuguese).27 July 2017.
  31. ^"Saiba como eram e como ficaram as bancadas na Câmara dos Deputados, partido a partido"[Find out how the benches in the Chamber of Deputies were and how they were, party by party].G1(in Brazilian Portuguese). October 8, 2018.RetrievedAugust 8,2022.
  32. ^"PT" desaparece "das capitais, MDB lidera prefeituras e DEM é o que mais cresce; veja destaques"[PT "disappears" from the capitals, MDB leads city halls and DEM is the fastest growing; see highlights].InfoMoney(in Brazilian Portuguese). November 30, 2020.RetrievedAugust 8,2022.
  33. ^LuizPuodzius (September 18, 2011)."Hino do PT - Workers' Party of Brazil".Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2021.RetrievedNovember 22,2016– via YouTube.
  34. ^Samuels, David."From Socialism to Social Democracy: Party Organization and The Transformation of the Workers' Party in Brazil".Comparative Political Studies.p. 3.
  35. ^ab(in Portuguese)Agência Brasil."Saiba mais sobre a história do PT".Terra. 24 June 2006.
  36. ^"Para que não se esqueça, para que nunca mais aconteça".April 2, 2014.RetrievedNovember 22,2016.
  37. ^"Leader's Torture in the '70s Stirs Ghosts in Brazil".The New York Times.August 5, 2012.RetrievedNovember 22,2016.
  38. ^(in Portuguese)"Manifesto aprovado na reunião do Sion".24 April 2006. Fundação Perseu Abramo.
  39. ^(in Portuguese)Political parties registered under the Supreme Electoral CourtArchivedNovember 29, 2010, at theWayback Machine.Tribunal Superior Eleitoral.
  40. ^(in Portuguese)OGASSAWARA, Juliana Sayuri."Onde estão os intelectuais brasileiros"ArchivedMay 26, 2020, at theWayback Machine.Fórum.São Paulo: Editora Publisher, May 2009. Page 20.
  41. ^Introduction to Latin America Twenty-First Century Challenges by Peadar Kirby, P.151
  42. ^"Brazil – The Presidential Election of 1989".Countrystudies.us.RetrievedNovember 1,2010.
  43. ^"author:" Boas "intitle:" Television and Neopopulism in Latin America "– Google Acadêmico".RetrievedNovember 1,2010.
  44. ^Branford, Sue; Bernardo Kucinski (1995).Brazil: Carnival of the Oppressed.London: Latin America Bureau. p. 120.ISBN978-0-906156-99-5.
  45. ^"Brazil re-elects President Lula",BBC,30 October 2006.
  46. ^"Eleições 2014".September 9, 2019. Archived fromthe originalon September 9, 2019.RetrievedNovember 21,2021.
  47. ^"Brookings Institution"(PDF).
  48. ^Horowitz, Irving Louis (July 1, 1981).Policy Studies Review Annual.Transaction Publishers.ISBN9780803913158.RetrievedNovember 22,2016– via Google Books.
  49. ^Hunter, Wendy (September 13, 2010).The Transformation of the Workers' Party in Brazil, 1989–2009.Cambridge University Press.ISBN9781139492669.RetrievedNovember 22,2016– via Google Books.
  50. ^[1].Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  51. ^abvan Dyck, Brandon Philip (2014).The Paradox of Adversity: New Left Party Survival and Collapse in Latin America.Harvard University. pp. 111–114.
  52. ^Machado, Adriano Henriques (2010).Os católicos oPTaram?: os "setores católicos" e o Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) na grande São Paulo (1978-1982)(in Portuguese). p. 89.
  53. ^Chalmers, Douglas A.; Vilas, Carlos M.;Hite, Katherine;Martin, Scott B.; Piester, Kerianne; Segarra, Monique (1997).The new politics of inequality in Latin America: rethinking participation and representation.New York: Oxford University Press. p. 431.ISBN0-19-878183-0.
  54. ^abcdeEntre mais pobres, Dilma teve 26 pontos de folga.O Estado de S. Paulo.7 November 2010.
  55. ^"Lula's purge: The Workers' Party sheds its dissenters".The Economist.October 1, 2003.
  56. ^Duffy, Gary (April 25, 2007)."Lula cleared of electoral scandal".BBC News.RetrievedNovember 1,2010.
  57. ^"Portal da Cidadania".September 29, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 22,2019.
  58. ^"Brazil Workers' Party treasurer arrested in Petrobras corruption investigation".The Guardian.Associated Press. April 16, 2015.RetrievedNovember 22,2016.
  59. ^"Brazil judge annuls ex-leader Lula's convictions".March 8, 2021.
  60. ^Vincent Begins (August 21, 2019)."The Dirty Problems With Operation Car Wash: News reports have pointed to serious wrongdoing at the heart of the anti-corruption inquiry that has shaken many Latin American countries".The Atlantic.
  61. ^"Esquerda Marxista (Marxist Left) decides to leave PT".In Defense of Marxism.May 5, 2015.RetrievedJune 26,2015.

Further reading

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In English

[edit]
  • Baiocchi, Gianpaolo, ed. (2003).Radicals in Power: The Workers' Party and Experiments in Urban Democracy in Brazil.Zed Books.
  • Branford, Sue; Kucinski, Bernardo (2005).Lula and the Workers' Party in Brazil.New Press.
  • Bruera, Hernán F. Gómez (2013).Lula, the Workers' Party and the Governability Dilemma in Brazil.Routledge.
  • Hunter, Wendy (2010).The Transformation of the Workers' Party in Brazil, 1989–2009.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-51455-2.
  • Keck, Margaret E. (1995).The Workers' Party and Democratization in Brazil.Yale University Press.

In Portuguese

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  • Couto, A. J. Paula.O PT em pílulas.
  • Dacanal, José Hildebrando.A nova classe no poder.
  • Demier, Felipe.As Transformações do PT e os Rumos da Esquerda no Brasil.
  • Godoy, Dagoberto Lima.Neocomunismo no Brasil.
  • Harnecker, Martha (1994).O sonho era possível.São Paulo: Casa das Américas.
  • Hohlfeldt, Antônio.O fascínio da estrela.
  • Moura, Paulo.PT – Comunismo ou Social-Democracia?.
  • Paula Couto, Adolpho João de.A face oculta da estrela.
  • Pedrosa, Mário (1980).Sobre o PT.São Paulo: CHED Editorial.
  • Pluggina, Percival.Crônicas contra o totalitarismo.
  • Tavares, José Antônio Giusti with Fernando Schüller, Ronaldo Moreira Brum and Valério Rohden.Totalitarismo tardio – o caso do PT.
  • Singer, André.O PT – Folha Explica.
  • Singer, André.Os Sentidos do Lulismo.

Annotated bibliography

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Preceded by Numbers of Brazilian Official Political Parties
13 – WP (PT) 		Succeeded by
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