Disenchanted voters tilt strongly right in Brazil

Subject

The makeup of the new Congress.

Significance

The October 7 general elections reconfigured Brazilian politics. On the back of the success of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro -- who fell just short of being elected in the first round --- the far right saw its representation expand significantly in a Congress where several established leaders lost seats they had held for decades. Gubernatorial candidates close to Bolsonaro also reached the run-off in key state races. Meanwhile, the traditional centre-right Social Democrats (PSDB) recorded their worst electoral performance since the party's foundation in the late 1980s.

Impacts

• Bolsonaro's economically liberal credentials are unproven.
• Some of Bolsonaro's allies may oppose key economic reforms.
• A highly fragmented Congress will make governance challenging over time.