Brazil in Focus 07/2026

The July edition of the Brazil in Focus series highlights three key pillars of Brazil’s electoral process. Humberto Dantas analyzes the strategic role of party conventions, where political leaders define candidacies and coalitions, underscoring the importance of internal coordination in advancing political projects. Graziella Testa explores the differences between majoritarian and proportional electoral systems, showing how each model translates votes into seats and how Brazil’s institutional framework promotes diversity while requiring constant negotiation. João Tavares examines the electoral restrictions known as defeso eleitoral, a set of rules designed to prevent the use of public resources for campaign purposes and to reinforce the separation between the state and the government. Starting with the July edition, the Brazil in Focus series is available in both Portuguese and German, broadening its reach and making its content accessible to a wider audience. Together, the articles demonstrate how rules, deadlines, and institutional safeguards shape democracy, requiring respect for institutions, a willingness to engage in dialogue, and civic vigilance to ensure that electoral competition remains fair and legitimate.