1994 Brazilian general election

The 1994 Brazilian presidential election was held on October 3, 1994. It was the second to take place under the provisions of the 1988 Constitution and only the second direct presidential election since 1960.

1994 Brazilian general election

3 October 1994
Presidential election
Turnout	82.23%
Candidate Fernando Henrique Cardoso Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Enéas Carneiro Party PSDB PT PRONA Alliance Union, Work and Progress Popular Brazil Front for Citizenship Home state São Paulo[lower-alpha 1] São Paulo[lower-alpha 2] São Paulo[lower-alpha 3] Running mate Marco Maciel Aloizio Mercadante Roberto Gama States carried 25 + DF 1 0 Popular vote 34,314,961 17,122,127 4,671,457 Percentage 54.24% 27.07% 7.38%
Presidential election results map after voting: Blue denotes states won by Cardoso Red denotes states won by Lula
President before election Itamar Franco PMDB Elected President Fernando Henrique Cardoso PSDB
Legislative election
513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 257 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader % Seats ± PMDB Orestes Quércia 20.3 107 -2 PFL Jorge Bornhausen 12.9 89 +6 PSDB Pimenta da Veiga 13.9 62 +25 PPR Esperidião Amin 9.4 52 New PT Rui Falcão 12.8 49 +14 PP 6.9 36 New PDT Leonel Brizola 7.2 34 -12 PTB 5.2 31 -3 PSB 2.2 15 +4 PL Alvaro Valle 3.5 13 -2 PCdoB 1.2 10 +5 PMN 0.6 4 +3 PDS Paulo Maluf 0.9 3 -39 PSC 0.5 3 -2 PPS 0.6 2 New PRP Ovasco Roma 0.5 1 +1 PRN Daniel Tourinho 0.4 1 -40 PV 1 New This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

Elected in 1989, Fernando Collor of the centre-right National Reconstruction Party (PRN) resigned in the face of an impeachment trial, resulting in Vice President Itamar Franco succeeding him.[1] Facing a fiscal crisis Franco's government launched the Plano Real ("Real Plan") to stabilize the national economy. The architect of the policy, Minister of Finance Fernando Henrique Cardoso,[2][3] was chosen by the PSDB to serve as their presidential candidate in Franco's absence. For the position of Vice President, Cardoso selected former presidential Chief of Staff Marco Maciel[4] of the Liberal Front Party (PFL).

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a former labor leader and federal deputy for São Paulo who had narrowly lost the 1989 presidential election, resigned as president of the Workers' Party (PT) to mount a second presidential candidacy.[5] Lula intended to make José Paulo Bisol of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) his running mate as he had in 1989.[6] However, Bisol was replaced by Lula ally and fellow PT member Aloizio Mercadante on the ticket.[7][8] In the spring of 1994, Lula appeared an overwhelming favorite over Cardoso, leading with 40% to Cardoso's 12% in an April poll and by a 41% to 17% margin as of May.[9] However, the Real Plan proved popular among Lula's own voters, with 70% of Lula supporters indicating their support for the Franco Administration's signature policy, and Lula was damaged by his opposition to the program.[9][10]

On election day, Cardoso won by a wide margin and absolute majority, negating the need for a second round. Cardoso notably won every state in the northeast, a region which would later emerge as the PT's political base.[11] The relative success of far-right candidate Enéas Carneiro, a cardiologist who had never won office before and ran as a member of the Party of the Reconstruction of the National (PRONA), was also noted; Carneiro won over 7% of the vote, placing him ahead of many established politicians.[12]

Background

In 1989, Brazil held its first direct presidential election since 1960 following the end of the military dictatorship in Brazil. Fernando Collor, a young, charismatic leader who had previous served as Governor of Alagoas, won a hotly contested election versus Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after positioning himself as a political outsider.[13][14] Just over two years into his presidency, Collor was faced with allegations of corruption by his brother Pedro Collor, and chose to resign in late 1992 in the face of an impeachment trial.[15][16]

Following his resignation, Vice President Itamar Franco succeeded him in the office.[1] Once in office, Franco switched from the National Reconstruction Party (PRN) to the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB).[17] Facing a hyperinflation crisis and popular discontent, Franco's government pushed a fiscal policy known as the Plano Real (Real Plan) to stabilize the economy.[18] Minister of Finance Fernando Henrique Cardoso, an experienced politician who had previously served as Senator from São Paulo and as Franco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, served as the architect of the plan.[19]

Franco was barred from running for a full term in 1994. In Brazil, whenever a vice president serves part of a president's term, even when the president travels abroad, it counts as a full term. At the time, the Constitution did not allow a president to run for immediate reelection. In the absence of Franco, Cardoso would be chosen by the PSDB as their nominee for President of Brazil in the 1994 election.

Lula's running mate controversy

As he had in 1989, Lula intended for Senator José Paulo Bisol of Rio Grande do Sul, a member of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), to serve as his vice presidential running mate. A former judge, Bisol had a strong reputation as an opponent of corruption,[20] playing a key role in the investigation that ultimately led to President Fernando Collor de Mello's resignation. Additionally, his membership of a party that played a crucial role in the centre-left coalition made his selection attractive to Lula.[21] However, Bisol's image as a "Mr. Clean" was harmed during campaign season by revelations of wrongdoing as a judge in 1981.[22]

The saga proved damaging to Lula's campaign, and as a result the leadership of the PT looked for a replacement for Bisol on the ticket. Arguing that Bisol should be replaced on the ticket by a fellow member of the PSB, PSB president Miguel Arraes pushed for the selection of Célio de Castro, then serving as Vice Mayor of Belo Horizonte, to replace Bisol as Lula's running mate.[23]

However, key power-players in the PT, such as party president Rui Falcão, successfully convinced Lula to replace Bisol with Aloízio Mercadante. A co-founder of the PT, Mercadante was then serving as a federal deputy for São Paulo.[24] Mercadante's background as a career economist during a hyperinflation crisis was seen as a plus for PT party leadership.[25]

Campaign of Enéas Carneiro

In the 1989 presidential election, the right-wing nationalist campaign of Enéas Carneiro received attention for Carneiro's exotic image. A short, bald man with a long beard and distinct "coke-bottle" glasses,[26] Carneiro's unusual appearance and signature catchphrase Meu nome é Enéas ("My name is Enéas") gained the cardiologist a following.[27] Nonetheless, Carneiro, who ran as a member of the Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order (PRONA), came 12th in a field of 21 candidates.

In 1994, Carneiro mounted a second bid for the presidency. The entrance of federal deputy Regina Gordilho of Rio de Janeiro, who had been elected as a member of the centre-left Democratic Labour Party, allowed his campaign to receive more guaranteed election time.[28] For the position of Vice President, Carneiro chose Rear Admiral[29] Roberto Gama e Silva to serve as his running mate.

Considered a nationalist and accused by opponents of being a member of the far-right,[30] Carneiro's unexpected third-place finish with over 7% of the national vote was considered a shocking result.[31] Carneiro, who had never been elected to office, received a larger share of the vote than longtime staple of the Brazilian Left Leonel Brizola, who had been a top candidate for the presidency four years prior.[32]

Candidates

José Paulo Bisol, Senator for Rio Grande do Sul (PSB) and original running mate of Lula in the 1994 election.

#		Party/coalition	Presidential candidate		Political office(s)	Vice-Presidential candidate
	11	Reform Progressive Party (PPR)		Esperidião Amin (PPR)	Senator for Santa Catarina 1991–98; Governor of Santa Catarina 1983–87; Mayor of Florianópolis 1975–79, 1989–90		Gardênia Gonçalves (PPR)
	12	"Strength of the People" PDT, PMN		Leonel Brizola (PDT)	Governor of Rio de Janeiro 1983–87, 1991–94; Federal Deputy from Guanabara 1963–64; Governor of Rio Grande do Sul 1959–63; Mayor of Porto Alegre 1956–58; Federal Deputy from Rio Grande do Sul 1955–56; State Deputy of Rio Grande do Sul 1947–55		Darcy Ribeiro (PDT)
	13	"Popular Brazil Front for Citizenship" PT, PSB, PPS, PV, PCdoB, PCB, PSTU		Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)	Federal Deputy from São Paulo 1987–91; PT National President 1980–88, 1990–94		Aloizio Mercadante (PT)
	15	"Development of Brazil" PMDB, PSD		Orestes Quércia (PMDB)	Governor of São Paulo 1987–91; Vice Governor of São Paulo 1983–86; Senator for São Paulo 1975–83; Mayor of Campinas 1969–73; State Deputy of São Paulo 1967–69; City Councillor of Campinas 1963–66		Iris de Araújo (PMDB)
	20	Social Christian Party (PSC)		Hernani Fortuna (PSC)	–		Vitor Nósseis (PSC)
	36	National Reconstruction Party (PRN)		Carlos Antônio Gomes (PRN)	–		Dilton Carlos Salomoni (PRN)
	45	"Union, Work and Progress" PSDB, PFL, PTB		Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB)	Minister of Finances 1993–94; Minister of Foreign Affairs 1992–93; Senator for São Paulo 1983–92		Marco Maciel (PFL)
	56	Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order (PRONA)		Enéas Carneiro (PRONA)	PRONA National President 1989–2006		Roberto Gama (PRONA)

Candidacies denied

#		Party/coalition	Presidential candidate		Political office(s)	Vice-Presidential candidate
	22	Liberal Party (PL)		Flávio Rocha (PL)	Federal Deputy from Rio Grande do Norte 1987–95		Marcos Cintra (PL)
	70	Labour Party of Brazil (PTdoB)		Caetano Matanó Jr. (PTdoB)	–		Adolfo Lopes (PTdoB)

Results

President

Candidate		Party	Running mate	Party	Votes	%
	Fernando Henrique Cardoso	PSDB	Marco Maciel	PFL	34,314,961	54.24
	Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva	PT	Aloizio Mercadante	PT	17,122,127	27.07
	Enéas Carneiro	PRONA	Roberto Gama	PRONA	4,671,457	7.38
	Orestes Quércia	PMDB	Iris de Araújo	PMDB	2,772,121	4.38
	Leonel Brizola	PDT	Darcy Ribeiro	PDT	2,015,836	3.19
	Esperidião Amin	PPR	Gardênia Gonçalves	PPR	1,739,894	2.75
	Carlos Antônio Gomes	PRN	Dilton Carlos Salomoni	PRN	387,738	0.61
	Hernani Fortuna	PSC	Vitor Nósseis	PSC	238,197	0.38
Invalid/blank votes					14,636,133	−
Total					77,898,464	100
Registered voters/turnout					94,732,410	82.23

Popular vote Cardoso   54.24% Lula   27.07% Carneiro   7.38% Quércia   4.38% Brizola   3.19% Amin   2.75% Others   0.99%

Chamber of Deputies

Chamber of Deputies elect in October 1994

Party		Chamber of Deputies
		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Brazilian Democratic Movement Party	9,287,049	20.3	107	2
	Brazilian Social Democracy Party	6,350,941	13.9	62	25
	Liberal Front Party	5,873,370	12.9	89	6
	Workers' Party	5,859,347	12.8	49	14
	Reform Progressive Party	4,307,878	9.4	52	12
	Democratic Labour Party	3,303,434	7.2	34	12
	Progressive Party	3,169,626	6.9	36	New
	Brazilian Labour Party	2,379,733	5.2	31	3
	Liberal Party	1,603,330	3.5	13	2
	Brazilian Socialist Party	995,298	2.2	15	4
	Communist Party of Brazil	567,186	1.2	10	5
	Democratic Social Party	414,933	0.9	3	1
	Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order	308,031	0.7	0
	Party of National Mobilization	257,018	0.6	4	3
	Popular Socialist Party	256,485	0.6	2	1
	Social Christian Party	213,734	0.5	3	2
	Progressive Republican Party	207,307	0.5	1	1
	National Reconstruction Party	184,727	0.4	1	40
	Green Party	154,666	0.4	1	New
	Brazilian Communist Party	154,666	0.4	0
	Brazilian Labour Renewal Party	154,666	0.4	0	New
	United Socialist Workers' Party	154,666	0.4	0	New
	Labour Party of Brazil	39	0.0	0
Invalid/blank votes		31,966,623	–	–	–
Total		77,660,795	100.0	513	–
Registered voters/turnout		94,743,043	82.23	–	–

Notes

1. Born in Rio de Janeiro, electoral based in São Paulo
2. Born in Pernambuco, electoral based in São Paulo
3. Born in Acre, electoral based in São Paulo

References

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