Thirty days that could shift the power balance of Brazilian politics

Today marks an important date for Brazil’s electoral schedule for 2022: the opening of a 30-day window during which members of Congress can switch parties without losing their office.

Per Brazilian electoral law, seats won in proportional elections (such as those for the House, city councils, and state congresses) belong to parties instead of candidates. Outside of the 30-day window, which closes six months prior to Election Day, switching parties is heavily regulated.

Popular presidential candidates tend to help their parties win more congressional seats, with Jair Bolsonaro being among the best examples. In 2018, he helped the once-tiny Social Liberal Party gain the second-largest bench in the lower house. As a result, transfers in this “partisan window” (as it is called in Brazil) will allow us to know who politicians see as the heavyweights ahead of the 2022 election.

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