Brazilian political party
Podemos (PODE; [poˈdemus], lit. 'We can'), previously known as the National Labour Party (Portuguese: Partido Trabalhista Nacional, PTN) is a centre-right Brazilian political party. Historically labourist and Janist,[7][8][9][10] since 2016 the party shifted its focus to support anti-corruption policies and direct democracy.[11][10]
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. The party claims that the inspiration for its name was the slogan of Barack Obama's campaign "Yes, we can".[12][13]
In 2018, the party chose Senator Alvaro Dias as its candidate for the presidency of Brazil.[14][15][16]
In 2018, it merged with the Humanist Party of Solidarity.[17] In 2022, it announced plans to merge with the Social Christian Party.[18] In 2023, the merge was approved by the Superior Electoral Court.[19]
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.[20]
The PTN was the party that had the greatest proportional growth in the local elections of 2016.[13]
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.[21][13][22][23] According to the party's leadership, Podemos was inspired by an international line of movements that propose to listen to people,[24] defend causes of collective interest[10] and together decide the future of the nation,[25] 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.[26] 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.[27] 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.[28]
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.[29] 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.[30] 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.[31] After this episode, Podemos also expelled a congressman that accepted the position of Minister of the Cities in President Michel Temer's cabinet.[32]
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.[33] Later, Podemos made other online polls to decide how their parliament members should vote on welfare reform and the end of legal immunity.[34]
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.[35]
On 21 December 2018, the Humanist Party of Solidarity merged into Podemos, increasing its parliamentary representation to 17 deputies and seven senators and turning Podemos into the third group in the Senate.[36] Podemos later joined Bolsonaro's majority.[37]
Ideology
According to the 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.[24] 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.[38]
Podemos believes that the Brazilian people need to know well who they voted for, what they stand for and their decisions.[39] For Podemos, transparency means the right of the population to know what happens in the country and thus avoid corruption.[3][40] 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.[41][38] 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.[42] For Podemos, a country is made with the participation of the people, day by day, every day.[43] 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.[44] Podemos also believes 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,[41] 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,[45] 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,[46] or recall as proposed by the projects of candidate for the presidency Alvaro Dias (PEC 37/2016)[47] and Renata Abreu (PEC 332/2017),[48] so that the citizen can participate in the decision making, asserting his right to participate directly in the whole democratic process.[41]
After pastor Marco Feliciano and pastor Cabo Daciolo (the latter of whom advocated the transformation of Brazil into a theocracy)[49] entered PODE in 2018, the party shifted toward a more social conservative direction, although both would leave a few years later to join other parties.
Leadership
List of current party leaders including House of Representatives and Senate members:
- Renata Abreu, congresswoman and president of Podemos
- Alvaro Dias, senator
- Oriovisto Guimarães, senator
- Adail Carneiro, congressman
- Cajar Nardes, congressman
- Dâmina Pereira, congresswoman
- Dr. Sinval Malheiros, congressman
- Ezequiel Cortaz Teixeira, congressman
- Francisco Chapadinha, congressman
- Jozi Araújo, congresswoman
- Laudivio Carvalho, congressman
- Marcelo Ortiz, congressman
- Ricardo Teobaldo, 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.[38] 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,[56][57] Podemos proposal is to gradually end the old politics, end privileges and replace the current system marked by corruption.[58] 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 truly represents its population.[59]
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