BRAZIL
Parliamentary Chamber: Cámara dos Deputados

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1990

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Chamber:
  Cámara dos Deputados


Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

  3 October 1990


Purpose of elections:

  Elections were held for all the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and for one-third (31) of those in the Senate on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office.


Background and outcome of elections:

  The election date was set on 10 October 1989. Polling was held simultaneously with that for state governorships and local assemblies.

In contention for the expanded, 503 Chamber of Deputies and 31 Senate seats were 22 political parties and a plethora of candidates. Foremost among these was the Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (PMDB), Congress’ largest single party; the Liberal Front Party (PFL); the left-wing Democratic Labour Party (PDT); and the National Reconstruction Party (PRN) of President of the Republic Fernando Collor de Mello, elected in December 1989.

The campaign was characterized by widespread voter apathy. Local issues such as crime were seen as significant as national questions bearing, for instance, on the country’s economy and the Government’s austerity programme in this sector.

On polling day, mainstream conservative and centrist parties won a plurality in Congress in an outcome that appeared to strengthen the position of President de Mello. Voter abstention was reportedly high. PMDB and PFL retained their leading positions in both Houses, and the right-wing PRN captured 41 Deputies’ seats. The new parliamentarians took office on 1 February 1991.

STATISTICS
Round no 1 (3 October 1990): Elections results  
Number of registered electors 83,817,593

Round no 1: Distribution of seats  
Political Group Total
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) 109
Liberal Front Party (PFL) 82
Democratic Labour Party (PDT) 46
Social Democratic Party (PDS) 42
National Reconstruction Party (PRN) 41
Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) 38
Social Democratic Party of Brazil (PSDB) 38
Workers’ Party (PT) 35
Christian Democrat Party (PDC) 22
Liberal Party (PL) 16
Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) 11
Communist Party of Brazil (PC do B) 5
Christian Social Party (PSC) 5
Social Reform Party (PRS) 4
Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) 3
Social Labour Party (PST) 2
Labour Renewal Party (PTR) 2
Other parties 2

Comments:
  16 seats added since previous elections.

Distribution of seats according to sex:  
Men: 473
Women: 30


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Copyright © 1990 Inter-Parliamentary Union