The Ideology of Brazilian Parties and Presidents: Coalitional Presidentialism Under Stress

21 Pages Posted: 15 Jun 2023 Last revised: 7 Aug 2023

See all articles by Cesar Zucco

Cesar Zucco

Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) - Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration (EBAPE)

Timothy J. Power

University of Oxford

Date Written: July 19, 2023

Abstract

This research note contributes updated and extended point estimates of the ideological positions of Brazilian political parties and novel estimates of the positions of all presidents since redemocratization in 1985. Presidents and parties are jointly responsible for the operability of Brazil’s version of coalitional presidentialism. Locating these key political actors in a unidimensional left-right space over time reveals rising challenges to the institutional setup, particularly since 2013. Ideological polarization among parties has sharply increased, presidents have become more distant from Congress, and the political center has become increasingly vacated. Coalitional presidentialism is being subjected to unprecedented ideological stress as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva begins his third term in office.

Keywords: Brasil, ideology, Congress, presidents

Suggested Citation

Zucco, Cesar and Power, Timothy J., The Ideology of Brazilian Parties and Presidents: Coalitional Presidentialism Under Stress (July 19, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4470209 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4470209

Cesar Zucco (Contact Author)

Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) - Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration (EBAPE) ( email )

Praia de Botafogo 190
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Brazil

Timothy J. Power

University of Oxford ( email )

Department of Economics
Manor Road
Oxford, OX1 3UQ
United Kingdom

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