The Great Debate: Who wins and who loses with the end of reelection?

Journalist and former senator Ana Amélia Lemos and lawyer Vitor Marques discussed, this Wednesday (21), in O Grande Debate (Monday to Friday, at 11 pm), whether the proposal that ends reelection in the Executive Branch is beneficial for Brazil.

The proposal was approved by the Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) and will be voted on by the House's plenary. If approved, it will still need to pass through the Chamber of Deputies.

Journalist and former senator Ana Amélia Lemos argues that, if the proposal is approved, Brazilian society will benefit the most.

“This will bring greater stability. Today, the strength of the public machine benefits reelection.”

Ana Amélia also argues that the right to reelection reduces the productivity of the Executive : “The ruler works well until the middle of the first term and, from that point on, the priority is only reelection”.

Lawyer Vitor Marques draws attention to another point in the proposal to end reelection: the extension of terms to 5 years and the unification of municipal and general elections. For him, this change is harmful to democracy.

Senate CCJ approves PEC to end reelection in the Executive | BACKSTAGE CNN

“This would reduce popular participation in decision-making. If this is approved, people’s political participation will only occur every five years, not every two. A system that does not allow for debate and participation is authoritarianism.”

Marques also highlights the difference in priorities between municipal and general elections . “In the elections for city councilor and mayor, local issues such as access to daycare are a priority. In the national elections, however, the issues are very different. So, by unifying these elections, the quality of public debate worsens.”