Brazil

Chamber of Deputies

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
07 Oct 2018
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake
513
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
35
Total number of candidates
8,588
Number of male candidates
5,821
Number of female candidates
2,767
Percentage of women candidates
32.2%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
146,750,529
Voters
117,111,570
Voter turnout
79.8%

Results

About the election

The 2018 elections returned a fragmented Congress, with 30 parties winning seats in the 513-member Chamber of Deputies and 20 parties sharing 54 seats up for renewal in the 81-member Senate. The Workers' Party (PT) remained the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, winning 56 seats, down from 70 in 2014. The Social Liberal Party (PSL), which held only one seat in the outgoing legislature, became the second largest party, winning 52. The number of women increased from 51 to 77 in the Chamber of Deputies and from 11 to 12 in the Senate. A woman of indigenous descent was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, becoming the first indigenous woman to enter the Brazilian Congress.

No candidate secured a majority in the first round of the presidential elections held in parallel with the parliamentary elections. In the run-off elections held on 28 October, former army captain Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) defeated Mr. Fernando Haddad (PT). The PSL pledged to fight crime and corruption while the PT promised to reverse austerity measures and boost spending to drag the country out of the recession. On 1 January 2019, Mr. Bolsonaro assumed the presidency. His government comprised his PSL, the Democrats (DEM), the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), the Brazilian Republican Party (PRB) and Novo.

The 2018 elections were held amid political turmoil marked by numerous corruption scandals involving prominent political figures from various parties, including former heads of State and members of parliament.

Number of parties winning seats
30
Percentage of parties winning seats
85.7%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
10.9%
Alternation of power after elections
Yes
Number of parties in government
5
Names of parties in government
Social Liberal Party (PSL), Democrats (DEM), Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), Brazilian Republican Party (PRB) and NOVO

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
Workers' Party (PT) 56
Social Liberal Party (PSL) 52
Progressive Party (PP) 37
Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) 34
Social Democratic Party (PSD) 34
Party of the Republic (PR) 33
Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) 32
Brazilian Republican Party (PRB) 30
Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB) 29
Democrats (DEM) 29
Democratic Labour Party (PDT) 28
Solidality (SD) 13
Podemos (PODE) 11
Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) 10
Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) 10
Communist Party of Brazil (PC do B) 9
Social Christian Party (PSC) 8
Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) 8
Popular Socialist Party (PPS) 8
Novo 8
Avante 7
Humanist Party of Solidarity (PHS) 6
Patriot (PATRI) 5
Green Party (PV) 4
Progressive Republican Party (PRP) 4
Party of National Mobilization (PMN) 3
Christian Labour Party (PTC) 2
Christian Democracy (DC) 1
Sustainability Network (REDE) 1
Free Fatherland Party (PPL) 1
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
436
Number of women elected
77
Percentage of women elected
15.0%
Women Directly Elected
77
Sources

IPU Group (23.10.2018, 03.07.2019)

Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (19.11.2018, 21.11.2018)

http://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/estatisticas/estatisticas-eleitorais

BBC

BBC Monitoring

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
436
Total number of women after the election
77
Percentage of women after the election
15.0%
First-term parliamentarians
No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
No information available
Date of the first session
01 Feb 2019

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Rodrigo Felinto Ibarra Epitacio Maia (Male)
Date of birth: 1970
Political party
Democrats (DEM)
Date of election
01 Feb 2019

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No