A new, even more fragmented Congress takes office

After a rough first month in office, it is fair to say that the Jair Bolsonaro administration begins now, as the new Congress takes office for the next four-year legislature. “Renewal” was the name of the game back in the October elections, and among the 54 Senate seats up for grabs, 87 percent were filled by newcomers. In the lower house, 243 of the 513 seats are now occupied by rookies. These numbers can often be misleading, however, and a large chunk of the “new” political class is formed by members of political dynasties — such as João Campos, from Pernambuco, son of the late Eduardo Campos, a former governor and presidential candidate.

For a new government filled with inexperienced officials, this new Congress could prove to be a tough challenge. After all, this will be the most fragmented legislature in Brazilian history, which is saying something. Overall, members from 30 parties begin their terms as members of Congress on February 1. In the Senate, 19 parties...