At least in number of candidates it is the biggest race for the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies in Brazilian history. No less than ten candidates from seven different political parties (out of a total of 20 parties represented in the Chamber) are in the running to serve out a term of office that runs from now until February 2, 2007.
The election campaign has lasted only a week, beginning with the resignation of the Speaker of the House, Severino Cavalcanti from the PP party of Pernambuco, last Wednesday, September 21, but it has been characterized by furious political jockeying.
Precisely because of the large number of candidates and all the jockeying, the situation is considered extremely fluid. According to Mozart Vianna, the Chamber secretary general, who will oversee the election, there may be last minute alliances with the result that someone will pull out of the race.
The election process gets underway this morning with each candidate having 15 minutes to present his platform. After that, voting will begin as soon as 257 deputies are present in the Chamber.
If no one gets a majority (257 votes) on the first vote, which is considered almost certain with ten candidates in the field, there will be a second vote between the two candidates with the most votes in the first vote.
It is expected that the new president will be known by 10 pm.
The ten candidates are: Aldo Rebelo (PC do B, São Paulo), José Thomáz Nonô (PFL, Alagoas), Michel Temer (PMDB, São Paulo), Ciro Nogueira (PP, Piauí), Francisco Dornelles (PP, Rio de Janeiro), Wanderley Assis (PP, São Paulo), Jair Bolsonaro (PP, Rio de Janeiro), Luiz Antônio Fleury Filho (PTB, São Paulo), João Caldas (PL, Alagoas) and Alceu Colares (PDT, Rio Grande do Sul).
Agência Brasil