Podemos (Brazil)

Podemos (PODE; [poˈdemuʃ], lit. 'We can'), previously known as the National Labour Party (Portuguese: Partido Trabalhista Nacional, PTN) is a Brazilian political party which supports direct democracy.[5][4]

Podemos

Podemos
PresidentRenata Abreu
Founded1995
HeadquartersSHIS QI 9, Conj. 6, Casa 7 - Lago Sul, Brasília, Brazil
Membership370,193[1]
IdeologyCurrent:
Populism
Direct democracy[2][3]
Historical:
Labourism[4]
Left-wing nationalism[4]
Janismo[4]
Political positionCurrent:
Centre to centre-right
Historical:
Centre-left to left-wing
Colors  Green
TSE Identification Number19
Seats in the Chamber of Deputies
10 / 513
Seats in the Senate
11 / 81
Website
podemos.org.br

Led by the Abreu family (José Masci de Abreu, Dorival de Abreu and Renata Abreu) since its foundation in 1995, the PTN changed its name to Podemos in 2016, but ideologically it differs significantly from the Spanish party Podemos. The party even claims that the inspiration for its name was not in any other party, but rather in the slogan of Barack Obama's campaign "Yes, we can".[6][7]

In 2018, the party chose Senator Alvaro Dias as its candidate for the presidency of Brazil.[8][9][10]

History

National Labour Party (1995–2016)

The PTN was founded in May 1995, gaining provisional registration in the same year. In 1996, led by former congressman Dorival de Abreu, the party obtained its definitive registration. After the death of Dorival, the party was led by his brother and former congressman José de Abreu. In the presidential election of 1998 the PTN chose its Secretary-General Thereza Ruiz as its candidate; she obtained 166,053 votes.

In the 2014 elections, the PTN elected four congressmen—Bacelar, Renata Abreu (daughter of José de Abreu, and currently the national president of the party), Christiane de Souza Yared and Delegate Edson Moreira—and 14 state deputies. In 2016, several politicians changed their party and some of them joined the PTN, which now has 18 congressmen and 5 senators.[11]

The PTN was the party that had the greatest proportional growth in the local elections of 2016.[7]

Podemos (2016–present)

In December 2016, the then National Labour Party changed its name and was renamed Podemos. Based on research and consulting studies, the organization was renamed inspired in the chant "Yes, we can" from the 2008 Barack Obama campaign to the presidency.[12][13][14][15] According to the party's leadership, Podemos was inspired by an international line of movements that propose to listen to people,[16] defend causes of collective interest[4] and together decide the future of the nation,[17] a model that claims to leave the old dispute between left or right and chooses to go forward, every day dividing more the country's decisions with the population.[18] Podemos believes it is the answer to a generation that understands that it is not the youth who does not want to know about politics, but this politics that does not know how to talk to the youth.[19] The leadership of Podemos also understands that the party is part of a society that today is mobilized through causes related to people's daily life, contrary to what they consider as stagnant political parties in outmoded models that seek only to remain in power. Podemos arose in a historical context in which the vast majority of Brazilians have no party preference and do not believe in the old political parties and the old politics.[20]

After the JBS plea bargain, Podemos was the first party to leave the allied base of the Michel Temer government on 18 May 2017, also leaving the party bloc of which it integrated alongside Progressive (PP) and Labour Party of Brazil (PTdoB) parties and then declaring independence in relation to government.[21] Podemos became represented in the Federal Senate with the affiliation of Alvaro Dias (ex Green) and Romário, who left the Social Democratic Party at the end of June.[22] In August, the party received the affiliation of José Medeiros (ex Social Democrat), senator by Mato Grosso. In November, Podemos expelled state congressmen who voted to free Jorge Picciani, the president of Alerj, Paulo Melo and Edson Albertassi from the prison, who were the target of Operação Cadeia Velha.[23] After this episode, Podemos also expelled a congressman that accepted the position of Minister of the Cities in President Michel Temer's cabinet.[24]

In July 2017, the party made an online poll to decide how congresswoman Renata Abreu should vote regarding the complaint of passive corruption against President Temer in the Commission of Constitution and Justice.[25] Later, Podemos made other online polls to decide how their parliament members should vote on welfare reform and the end of legal immunity.[26]

In the 2018 general election, Podemos formed a coalition with the Social Christian Party, the Christian Labour Party and the Progressive Republican Party in support of the candidacy of Alvaro Dias for president. Dias obtained 859,601 votes (0,80%); the party performed well in parliamentary election, electing 11 deputies and one senator. Dias endorsed Bolsonaro in the second round.[27]

On 21 December 2018 the Humanist Party of Solidarity merged into Podemos, increasing its parliamentary representation to 17 deputies and 7 senators and turning Podemos into the third group in the Senate.[28] Podemos later joined Bolsonaro's majority.[29]

Ideology

According to party's president Renata Abreu, Podemos is not about left and right, but forward, with more democracy to together decide the future of the country.[16] In the classical analysis of the political sciences, Podemos is defined as the center, with liberal proposals in the economy as well as distribution and income, when it comes to social development. This ideology, which is based on defending causes, results in three principles, namely transparency, popular participation and direct democracy, to jointly decide the future of Brazil. In this line, Podemos intends to give voice to people who do not feel represented by the current Brazilian political parties.[30]

Podemos believes that the Brazilian people need to know well who they voted for, what they stand for and their decisions.[31] For Podemos, transparency means the right of the population to know what happens in the country and thus avoid corruption.[32][33] Podemos believes that Brazil needs more popular participation in politics, such as people being part of the governments, in the decisions of their neighborhoods, consultations to help the mayor, suggestions for their cities or collaborating to improve their states and country.[34][30] The party is known for making online consultations on topics under discussion in the Congress and for committing to present projects that have the signature of at least 20,000 voters.[35] For Podemos, a country is made with the participation of the people, day by day, every day.[36] Among the projects and proposals defended in the agenda, the party presented through its president PEC 185-2015, authored by Renata Abreu, which turns to law the right of access to the internet for each Brazilian citizen, guaranteeing access to information and the possibility of participating in decisions.[37] Podemos also understands that the true definition of the word democracy is to gradually share decision making with the people. The party defends more mechanisms of direct democracy in Brazil,[34] either through plebiscites, referendums like the PEC 330/2017 authored by Renata Abreu who proposes that in each election the people can vote in more than candidates, but also in important subjects of interest of most people,[38] popular referendums as advocated by PEC 331/2017, also by congresswoman Renata Abreu, to include in the constitution the right of the people to veto laws that have already been approved,[39] or recall as proposed by the projects of candidate for the presidency Alvaro Dias (PEC 37/2016)[40] and Renata Abreu (PEC 332/2017),[41] so that the citizen can participate in the decision making, asserting his right to participate directly in the whole democratic process.[34]

Since Pastor Marco Feliciano and Pastor Cabo Daciolo (the latter of whom advocated the transformation of Brasil into a theocracy)[42] entered PODE, the party has shifted toward a more social conservative direction.

Policies
  • End of legal Immunity and other privileges: end to privileges and corruption, reinforced by the bill PEC 333/2017 by Senator Alvaro Dias which aims to end the legal immunity.[43]
  • Ensure imprisonment after second instance: against impunity in the country, legitimize the imprisonment in second instance as in the bill filed by Senator Alvaro Dias.[44]
  • Transparency in all the public accounts: disclose all government accounts in a transparency portal, including your spending, contracts and budgets, so anyone can see.
  • End to compulsory voting: adopt the optional vote in Brazil as proposed by the bill PEC 11/2015, authored by Senator Alvaro Dias.[45]
  • Recall Elections: adopt the recall system to revoke the mandate of bad rulers as proposed by Renata Abreu and Alvaro Dias in PEC 37/2016.[46]
  • Open a public debt audit of the country: open an application for a public debt audit in Brazil to know the exact financial situation of the country.[47]
  • Population guide the vote of its parliament members: create a law so that the voters can decide the votes of the parliamentarians on more important projects.[26]
  • Include plebiscites and referendums to each election: at each election include to vote plebiscites or referendums on important issues as proposed by Alvaro Dias on the reduction of the criminal majority.[48]
  • Internet access as a right to all the Brazilians: make the internet a right for every Brazilian citizen as proposed by the bill PEC 185-2015, authored by Renata Abreu.[49]
  • Defend the population's interest in causes: open to vote the most important causes for the population, so that they can define the priorities of the government.[4]

Facts and achievements

Summary of key facts and achievements of Podemos accomplished one year after its official launch:

  • In the list of 53 politicians investigated by Lava Jato for corruption, none of them is from Podemos.[50]
  • Podemos expelled state congressmen who voted to free Jorge Picciani, the president of Alerj, Paulo Melo and Edson Albertassi from the prison, who were the target of Operação Cadeia Velha.[23]
  • After the JBS plea bargain, Podemos was the first party to leave the allied base of the Temer government on 18 May 2017, also leaving the party bloc of which it integrated alongside PP and PTdoB and then declaring independence in relation to government.[24]
  • Podemos presidential candidate Alvaro Dias is the author of the End of Legal Immunity bill.[51]
  • So far, Podemos is the only party which makes online polls to decide the vote of its parliament members as in the vote for the pension reform.[26]
  • The party's president Renata Abreu is the author of PEC 185-2015, a bill which proposes access to the internet as a right to all the Brazilian citizens.[52]
  • Podemos was the party that had the greatest proportional growth in the local elections of 2016.[7]
  • In one year, Podemos increased its number of parliament members to 18 deputies and 5 senators, including the affiliation of Alvaro Dias, Romário and José Medeiros.[53]
  • According to a research conducted by the Paraná Institute in May 2018, Senator Romário, candidate for governor of Rio de Janeiro,[54] led the voting intentions with rates between 24 and 30%.[55] In September 2018, the Brazilian football player Neymar announced his support for Romário's candidacy.[56]
  • Its nominee for the presidency is Senator Alvaro Dias, author of the bill for the end of legal immunity for politicians and authorities.[51]

Leadership

List of current party leaders including House of Representatives and Senate members:

  • Renata Abreu, congresswoman and president of Podemos
  • Alvaro Dias, senator
  • Romário, senator
  • Oriovisto Guimarães, senator
  • José Antonio Medeiros, senator
  • Elmano Férrer, senator
  • Rose de Freitas, senator
  • Adail Carneiro, congressman
  • Aluisio Mendes, congressman
  • Antônio Jácome, congressman
  • Bacelar, congressman
  • Cajar Nardes, congressman
  • Dâmina Pereira, congresswoman
  • Diego Garcia, congressman
  • Dr. Sinval Malheiros, congressman
  • Ezequiel Cortaz Teixeira, congressman
  • Francisco Chapadinha, congressman
  • Jozi Araújo, congresswoman
  • Laudivio Carvalho, congressman
  • Marcelo Ortiz, congressman
  • Marco Feliciano, congressman
  • Ricardo Teobaldo, congressman
  • Roberto de Lucena, congressman

Plan for Brazil

With policies of more transparency, more participation and direct democracy, Podemos aims to pass new bills, elect new leaders and change the country's political system.[30] Whether with a cause in the streets, new laws in the congress, technology to vote through cell phones or with a name like Alvaro Dias to take over the presidency of the country and rebuild the Republic,[57][58] Podemos proposal is to gradually end the old politics, end privileges and replace the current system marked by corruption.[59] In ten years, the party wants to leave behind a country marked by scandals to transform Brazil into a more correct, fair and transparent nation that trully represents its population.[60]

Electoral results

Presidential elections
Year Image Candidate Vice presidential candidate Political alliance Votes % Placing
1998
Thereza Ruiz (PTN) Eduardo Gomes (PTN) No coalition 166,138 0.25 10th
2018 Alvaro Dias (PODE) Paulo Rabello de Castro (PSC) PODE, PSC, PTC, PRT 859,574 0.8 9th

References
  1. http://www.tse.jus.br/eleitor/estatisticas-de-eleitorado/filiados
  2. O que pensa o Podemos
  3. Podemos quer transparência e democracia direta
  4. Podemos é um Partido de Causas
  5. Podemos
  6. Deputados articulam novo partido para a disputa de 2018
  7. PTN vai mudar de nome para Podemos, inspirado em Obama
  8. Alvaro Dias é candidato do Podemos à Presidência
  9. Thirteen in Brazil’s presidential race this year
  10. Matchmaking Season Begins in Brazil as Politicians Seek Parties
  11. Lideranças Políticas do Podemos
  12. "MUdança de nome no PTN". Archived from the original on 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  13. PTN, que já teve Jânio e Pitta, muda para Podemos, inspirado em Obama
  14. PTN muda de nome a passa a se chamar Podemos
  15. "PTN muda de nome e vira Podemos". Archived from the original on 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  16. Podemos faz parte de um Movimento Internacional
  17. Alvaro entra no Partido Podemos
  18. Partidos mudam de nome para atrair Eleitores
  19. Antônio Campos Anuncia entrada no Podemos
  20. Nasceu o Podemos Brasileiro
  21. Com 13 deputados, PTN anuncia rompimento com governo Temer
  22. Romario and Bebeto team up again, this time in politics
  23. Deputados do Podemos são expulsos do partido
  24. Podemos expulsa deputado que aceitou cargo de Temer
  25. Deputada faz votação online para decidir voto contra Temer
  26. Podemos faz votação online para decidir votos de deputados
  27. disse, Magda Santos (2018-10-10). "ALVARO DIAS APOIA BOLSONARO DE OLHO NO MINISTÉRIO". urbsmagna.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  28. "Podemos incorpora PHS e vira terceira maior bancada do Senado". O Globo (in Portuguese). 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  29. "Bancada do Podemos na Câmara adere a Bolsonaro". O Antagonista (in Portuguese). 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  30. Podemos mudar o Brasil e acabar com a velha política
  31. Podemos defende a Transparência
  32. Podemos quer mais transparência na política
  33. Podemos defende a transparência e o combate á corrupção
  34. Podemos propõe dividir as decisões com o povo
  35. Podemos promove participação popular com consultas online
  36. Podemos defende a participação do povo
  37. Renata Abreu propõe internet como direito de todo brasileiro
  38. Renata Abreu propõe plebiscitos e referendos no país
  39. Renate Abreu propõe projeto que instituir o Veto Popular
  40. Projeto de Recall de Alvaro Dias
  41. Projeto de Recall de Renata Abreu
  42. Umpieres, Rodrigo Tolotti. "Quem é Cabo Daciolo, o candidato nacionalista que quer transformar o Brasil em uma teocracia". www.infomoney.com.br.
  43. Alvaro Dias defende Fim do Foro Privilegiado
  44. Líder do Podemos defende de Prisão em Segunda Instância
  45. Projeto do Voto Facultativo
  46. Projeto do Recall para Políticos no Brasil
  47. Líder do Podemos propõe auditoria da dívida pública
  48. Alvaro Dias defende referendo sobre redução da maioridade penal
  49. Projeto de Lei de Internet para Todos
  50. Da lista de políticos investigados da Lava Jato nenhum é do Podemos
  51. Podemos lança Alvaro dias e defende Fim do Foro
  52. Projeto da deputada Renata Abreu
  53. Lideranças Políticas do Podemos
  54. Brazil ex-football star Romario seeks Rio state governor post
  55. Romário do Podemos lidera no Rio
  56. Neymar backs former Brazil forward Romario for Rio governor
  57. Presidential Candidate Alvaro Dias Wants To Rebuild The Republic
  58. Career Politician Eyeing Brazil’s Presidency Wants Radical Rupture
  59. Alvaro Dias quer Refundar a República
  60. Podemos quer mudar o Brasil
Preceded by
18 - NETWORK (REDE)		 Numbers of Brazilian Official Political Parties
19 - PODE		 Succeeded by
20 - SCP (PSC)
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