Alexandre de Moraes defends adoption of mixed-member proportional representation
According to the magistrate, the current proportional electoral system has failed and needs to be reformulated to strengthen political parties.
The Vice President of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, defended the country's gradual transition to mixed-member proportional representation during a lecture at an event held in São Paulo. The magistrate stated that Brazil's current electoral model has failed and highlighted the need for structural reforms to strengthen democratic institutions.
Criticism of the current electoral model
According to the minister, the current proportional system contributes to the election of lawmakers who have little identification with party labels. Moraes criticized politicians who prioritize exposure on social media and live streaming over the discussion of bills and legislative performance.
For the STF member, the lack of party affiliation among elected officials ultimately weakens the functioning of the National Congress. He emphasized that the separation of powers set forth in the Brazilian Constitution was structured on the basis of a democracy with strong parties.
How the transition would work
Moraes stated that he advocates moving away from the pure proportional model toward the mixed-member proportional system in a gradual manner. The proposal mentioned by the minister envisions starting the change with thirty percent of the district model, later advancing to higher percentages.
In the district system, the electoral territory is divided into regions corresponding to the number of seats, and candidates directly compete for votes in a specific area. Meanwhile, the mixed-member model combines this division with the distribution of part of the seats via party-list voting.
Challenges for democracy
During his participation in the event, the magistrate also pointed out that the country has overcome periods of institutional instability since the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, citing impeachment processes and the attacks that occurred on January 8, 2023.
Despite stating that the democratic regime has endured and that the country holds reliable elections, Moraes argued that preserving this scenario requires reforms across all Branches of Government. The minister also criticized the actions of tech companies and the algorithms used during electoral periods.
With information from Estadão, R7, Metrópoles.
Source: Estadão, R7, Metrópoles