1994 Brazilian general election

1994 Brazilian general election

3 October 1994
Presidential election
←  1989 1998  →
Turnout	82.24%
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 Running mate Marco Maciel Aloizio Mercadante Roberto Gama Popular vote 34,364,961 17,122,127 4,671,457 Percentage 54.28% 27.04% 7.38%
Election by states, shaded accounding to vote share
President before election Itamar Franco PRN Elected President Fernando Henrique Cardoso PSDB
Parliamentary election
←  1990 1998  →
513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 257 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– MDB Orestes Quércia 20.32 107 −1 PSDB Pimenta da Veiga 13.90 62 +24 PFL Jorge Bornhausen 12.85 89 +6 PT Rui Falcão 12.82 49 +14 PPR Esperidião Amin 9.43 52 −12 PDT Leonel Brizola 7.23 34 −12 PP 6.94 36 +32 PTB 5.21 31 −7 PL Alvaro Valle 3.51 13 −3 PSB 2.18 15 +4 PCdoB 1.24 10 +5 PSD Paulo Maluf 0.91 3 +2 PMN 0.56 4 +3 PPS 0.56 2 New PSC 0.47 3 −3 PRP Ovasco Roma 0.45 1 +1 PRN Daniel Tourinho 0.40 1 −39 PV 1 New This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

General elections were held in Brazil on October 3, 1994, the second to take place under the provisions of the 1988 constitution and the second direct presidential election since 1960.

Elected in 1989, President Fernando Collor of the centre-right National Reconstruction Party (PRN) had 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. With Franco barred from running for a full term, the architect of the Real Plan, 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 of the Liberal Front Party (PFL). ^[4]

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] 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] 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 received 54 percent of the vote, negating the need for a second round. He defeated Lula by over 27 points, still a record margin for a presidential election held under democratic conditions. 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 Order (PRONA), was also noted; Carneiro received over 7% of the vote, placing him ahead of many established politicians. ^[12] Carneiro's vote share was the highest received by a far-right presidential candidate until Jair Bolsonaro's victory in 2018.

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 rather than face certain conviction and removal in 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 Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). ^[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 (a party born from inside the PMDB) as their nominee for President of Brazil in the 1994 election.

Lula's running mate controversy

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

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] 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] Key power-players in the PT, such as party president Rui Falcão, successfully convinced Lula to replace Bisol with Aloizio 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

Party		Candidate	Most relevant political office or occupation	Party		Running mate	Coalition	Electoral number
	Reform Progressive Party (PPR)	Esperidião Amin	Governor of Santa Catarina (1983–1987)		Reform Progressive Party (PPR)	Gardênia Gonçalves	—	11
	Democratic Labour Party (PDT)	Leonel Brizola	Governor of Rio de Janeiro (1991–1994)		Democratic Labour Party (PDT)	Darcy Ribeiro	Strength of the People Democratic Labour Party (PDT) Party of National Mobilization (PMN)	12
	Workers' Party (PT)	Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva	Member of the Chamber of Deputies from São Paulo (1987–1991)		Workers' Party (PT)	Aloizio Mercadante	Popular Brazil Front for Citizenship Workers' Party (PT) Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) Popular Socialist Party (PPS) Green Party (PV) Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU)	13
	Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB)	Orestes Quércia	Governor of São Paulo (1987–1991)		Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB)	Iris de Araújo	Development of Brazil Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) Social Democratic Party (PSD) Progressive Republican Party (PRP)	15
	Social Christian Party (PSC)	Hernani Fortuna	Admiral of the Brazilian Navy		Social Christian Party (PSC)	Vítor Nosseis	—	20
	National Reconstruction Party (PRN)	Carlos Antônio Gomes			National Reconstruction Party (PRN)	Dilton Carlos Salomoni	—	36
	Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB)	Fernando Henrique Cardoso	Minister of Finance of Brazil (1993–1994)		Liberal Front Party (PFL)	Marco Maciel	Union, Work and Progress Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) Liberal Front Party (PFL) Brazilian Labour Party (PTB)	45
	Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order (PRONA)	Enéas Carneiro	PRONA National President (1989–2006)		Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order (PRONA)	Roberto Gama	—	56

Candidacies denied

Party		Candidate	Most relevant political office or occupation	Party		Running mate	Coalition	Electoral number
	Liberal Party (PL)	Flávio Rocha	Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Rio Grande do Norte (1987–1995)		Liberal Party (PL)	Jadihel Lohedo Júnior	—	22
	Labour Party of Brazil (PTdoB)	Caetano Matanó Júnior.			Labour Party of Brazil (PTdoB)	Rafael Francisco	—	70

Results

President

Candidate		Running mate	Party	Votes	%
	Fernando Henrique Cardoso	Marco Maciel (PFL)	Brazilian Social Democracy Party	34,364,961	54.28
	Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva	Aloizio Mercadante	Workers' Party	17,122,127	27.04
	Enéas Carneiro	Roberto Gama	Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order	4,671,457	7.38
	Orestes Quércia	Iris de Araújo	Brazilian Democratic Movement Party	2,772,121	4.38
	Leonel Brizola	Darcy Ribeiro	Democratic Labour Party	2,015,836	3.18
	Esperidião Amin	Gardênia Gonçalves	Reform Progressive Party	1,739,894	2.75
	Carlos Antônio Gomes	Dilton Carlos Salomoni	National Reconstruction Party	387,738	0.61
	Hernani Fortuna	Vitor Nósseis	Social Christian Party	238,197	0.38
Total				63,312,331	100.00
Valid votes				63,312,331	81.22
Invalid/blank votes				14,636,133	18.78
Total votes				77,948,464	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				94,782,803	82.24
Source: TSE

Chamber of Deputies

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Brazilian Democratic Movement Party	9,287,049	20.32	107	–1
	Brazilian Social Democracy Party	6,350,941	13.90	62	+24
	Liberal Front Party	5,873,370	12.85	89	+6
	Workers' Party	5,859,347	12.82	49	+14
	Reform Progressive Party	4,307,878	9.43	52	–12
	Democratic Labour Party	3,303,434	7.23	34	–12
	Progressive Party	3,169,626	6.94	36	+32
	Brazilian Labour Party	2,379,773	5.21	31	–7
	Liberal Party	1,603,330	3.51	13	–3
	Brazilian Socialist Party	995,298	2.18	15	+4
	Communist Party of Brazil	567,186	1.24	10	+5
	Social Democratic Party	414,933	0.91	3	+2
	Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order	308,031	0.67	0	0
	Party of National Mobilization	257,018	0.56	4	+3
	Popular Socialist Party	256,485	0.56	2	New
	Social Christian Party	213,734	0.47	3	–3
	Progressive Republican Party	207,307	0.45	1	+1
	National Reconstruction Party	184,727	0.40	1	–39
	Green Party	154,666	0.34	1	New
	Brazilian Communist Party			0	–3
	Brazilian Renewal Labour Party			0	New
	United Socialist Workers' Party			0	New
	Labour Party of Brazil	39	0.00	0	0
Total		45,694,172	100.00	513	+10
Valid votes		45,694,172	58.84
Invalid/blank votes		31,966,623	41.16
Total votes		77,660,795	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		94,743,043	81.97

Senate

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Brazilian Social Democracy Party	15,652,182	16.34	9
	Brazilian Democratic Movement Party	14,870,466	15.52	14
	Workers' Party	13,350,294	13.93	4
	Liberal Front Party	13,014,066	13.58	11
	Democratic Labour Party	7,299,932	7.62	4
	Liberal Party	7,138,405	7.45	1
	Reform Progressive Party	4,473,291	4.67	2
	Progressive Party	4,208,013	4.39	4
	Brazilian Labour Party	4,015,701	4.19	3
	Popular Socialist Party	2,447,931	2.55	1
	Brazilian Socialist Party	2,336,549	2.44	1
	National Reconstruction Party	1,628,491	1.70	0
	Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order	1,150,157	1.20	0
	Social Christian Party	963,615	1.01	0
	Communist Party of Brazil	751,428	0.78	0
	Social Democratic Party	737,939	0.77	0
	United Socialist Workers' Party	674,856	0.70	0
	Progressive Republican Party	613,761	0.64	0
	Party of National Mobilization	486,430	0.51	0
Total		95,813,507	100.00	54
Total votes		77,949,111	–
Registered voters/turnout		94,743,043	82.27
Source: Nohlen

References

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