Workers' Party (Brazil)
The Workers' Party (Portuguese: Partido dos Trabalhadores; abbreviated PT) is a center-left[2][3] to left-wing[4][5] Brazilian political party. Founded in 10 February 1980, it is one of the largest and most important left-leaning movements in Latin America.[6] In 2022, the party had 1,602,361 members,[7] being the second largest political party in Brazil, only behind the Brazilian Democratic Movement. Along with the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), its historical opponent, PT was the largest party that emerged from the fight for democratization of Brazil during the military dictatorship.
Workers' Party Partido dos Trabalhadores | |
|---|---|
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| Abbreviation | PT |
| Founded | 10 February 1980 |
| Legalised | 11 February 1982 |
| Headquarters | São Paulo and Brasília |
| Newspaper | Focus Brasil |
| Think tank | Fundação Perseu Abramo |
| Youth wing | Juventude do PT |
| Membership (2024) | 1,604,168[1] |
| Ideology | Social democracy Left-wing populism |
| Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
| Regional affiliation | São Paulo Forum COPPPAL |
| International affiliation | Progressive Alliance |
| Colors | Red |
| TSE identification number | 13 |
| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
| pt | |
Historically democratic socialist,[8] since the 2000s the party follows social-democratic principles[9] and maintains a populist stance centered on Lula's image (something called "Lulism").[9][10][11] Internally, it has Cristian left, socialist, and Third Way factions. Its support mainly comes from lower-class workers, civil servants, Catholics, and artists. Its members and sympathizers are colloquially called "petistas".
In 2003, with Lula becoming President, the party began to command the Brazilian Executive for the first time. Lula was re-elected in 2006, finishing his term as the best approved President of all time, with a world record of 87% approval.[12] He was succeeded by Dilma Rousseff in 2011.
Dilma was re-elected in 2014 by a narrow margin[13] despite the party's unpopularity caused by an economic crises and corruption scandals. She left the presidency in August 2016, after a request for impeachment was approved by the National Congress due to budget operations not foreseen in legislation during her administration.[14] In 2022, Lula was elected to a third term, becoming the first Brazilian President to win an election three times.[15]
History overview
The Workers' Party was founded in 1980, during the military dictatorship (1964-1985). Its founders included trade unionists, intellectuals, left-wing activists, and members of social movements.
The party was born with a strong left-wing ideological base, defending principles such as participatory democracy, social justice, labour rights, and agrarian reform. Its foundation was a response to the need for a political alternative during the dictatorship, representing the interests of workers and marginalized sectors of society.
The party grew quickly. In the 1982 municipal elections, it won several important mayorships. In 1986, it elected its first federal and state deputies.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (better known as Lula), a former metalworker and union leader, emerged as a prominent figure in the party. His charismatic leadership and mobilization capacity contributed significantly to the party growth. He ran for president in 1989, 1994, 1998 and was finally elected in 2002.
During PT governments, mainly under Lula (2003-2010), Brazil experienced significant changes. Social programs such as Bolsa Família, the increase in the minimum wage, and social inclusion policies were implemented, contributing to the reduction of poverty.
During mid 2000s and 2010s, PT faced a series of challenges, including corruption scandals that damaged its reputation. Mensalão, in 2005, and Operation Car Wash, from 2014, resulted in investigations and convictions of party members, including Lula. These events had a significant impact on PT's image and popularity.
After Dilma's impeachment in 2016, the party become opposition for the first time after 13 years as government. It tried to regain power in the 2018 presidential elections, but its nominee, Fernando Haddad, lost to Jair Bolsonaro, who since became PT's main opponent.
In 2022, with Lula's release ordered by the Superior Federal Court (STF), the party had him as presidential candidate and won. Since 2023, the party controls federal government.
Electoral history
Presidential elections
| Election | Candidate | Running mate | Coalition | First round | Second round | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||
| 1989 | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) | José Paulo Bisol (PSB) | PT; PSB; PCdoB | 11,622,673 | 16.1% (#2) | 31,076,364 | 47.0% (#2) | Lost  |
| 1994 | Aloizio Mercadante (PT) | PT; PSB; PCdoB; PPS; PV; PSTU | 17,122,127 | 27.0% (#2) | – | – | Lost | |
| 1998 | Leonel Brizola (PDT) | PT; PDT; PSB; PCdoB; PCB | 21,475,211 | 31.7% (#2) | – | – | Lost | |
| 2002 | José Alencar (PL) | PT; PL; PCdoB; PMN; PCB | 39,455,233 | 46.4% (#1) | 52,793,364 | 61.3% (#1) | Elected  | |
| 2006 | José Alencar (PRB) | PT; PRB; PCdoB | 46,662,365 | 48.6% (#1) | 58,295,042 | 60.8% (#1) | Elected | |
| 2010 | Dilma Rousseff (PT) | Michel Temer (PMDB) | PT; PMDB; PR; PSB; PDT; PCdoB; PSC; PRB; PTC; PTN | 47,651,434 | 46.9% (#1) | 55,752,529 | 56.1% (#1) | Elected |
| 2014 | PT; PMDB; PSD; PP; PR; PDT; PRB; PROS; PCdoB | 43,267,668 | 41.6% (#1) | 54,501,118 | 51.6% (#1) | Elected | ||
| 2018 | Fernando Haddad (PT) | Manuela d'Ávila (PCdoB) | PT; PCdoB; PROS | 31,341,997 | 29.3% (#2) | 47,040,380 | 44.8% (#2) | Lost |
| 2022 | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) | Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) | PT; PCdoB; PV; PSOL; REDE; PSB; Solidariedade; Avante; Agir | 57,259,405 | 48.4% (#1) | 60,325,504 | 50.9% (#1) | Elected |
| Source: Election Resources: Federal Elections in Brazil – Results Lookup | ||||||||
Chamber of Deputies and Senate elections
| Election | Chamber of Deputies | Federal Senate | Status | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | ||
| 1982 | 1,458,719 | 3.5 | 8 / 479 |  8 | 1,538,786 | 3.6 | 0 / 25 |  | Opposition |
| 1986 | 3,253,999 | 6.9 | 16 / 487 | 8 | – | – | 0 / 49 | | Opposition |
| 1990 | 4,128,052 | 10.2 | 35 / 502 | 19 | – | – | 1 / 31 | 1 | Opposition |
| 1994 | 5,959,854 | 13.1 | 49 / 513 | 14 | 13,198,319 | 13.8 | 4 / 54 | 3 | Opposition |
| 1998 | 8,786,528 | 13.2 | 58 / 513 | 9 | 11,392,662 | 18.4 | 7 / 81 | 3 | Opposition |
| 2002 | 16,094,080 | 18.4 | 91 / 513 | 33 | 32,739,665 | 21.3 | 14 / 81 | 7 | Coalition |
| 2006 | 13,989,859 | 15.0 | 83 / 513 |  8 | 16,222,159 | 19.2 | 10 / 81 | 4 | Coalition |
| 2010 | 16,289,199 | 16.9 | 88 / 513 | 5 | 39,410,141 | 23.1 | 15 / 81 | 5 | Coalition |
| 2014 | 13,554,166 | 14.0 | 68 / 513 | 20 | 15,155,818 | 17.0 | 12 / 81 | 3 | Coalition (2014–2016) |
| Opposition (2016–2018) | |||||||||
| 2018 | 10,126,611 | 10.3 | 56 / 513 | 12 | 24,785,670 | 14.5 | 6 / 81 | 6 | Opposition |
| 2022 | 15,354,125[a] | 13.9 | 69 / 513 | 13 | 12,456,553 | 12.2 | 9 / 81 | 3 | Coalition |
| Sources: Georgetown University, Election Resources, Rio de Janeiro State University | |||||||||
