Brazil’s Supreme Rebuffs Congress on Electoral Rule

Brazil’s Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal) (STF), acting on a suit brought by the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), voted, Wednesday, March 22, 9 to 2 to uphold the principle of "verticalization" in this year’s general elections which take place in October.

"Verticalization" means that political parties will have to maintain the same alliances at national and state levels in the elections.

In February the Congress approved a bill that overturned the principle of verticalization, which would have made it possible for a kind of electoral free-for-all to take place between now and the October elections.

That prompted the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) to file its suit in the Supreme Court based on the constitutional prohibition of changes in election rules in the same year the elections are to take place.

ABr

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil: Here Lies José Dirceu, Consumed by Ambition and Arrogance

 "This house is judging me, but it is also judging itself." The year-long political ...

Brazilian Urban Indians Are Surviving as Odd Jobbers and Maids

According to the census carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics ...

Brazil Gets Record Exports and Imports. But Trade Surplus Is Down

Brazil's balance of trade surplus (exports minus imports) stood at US$ 944 million on ...