Brazilian Social Democracy Party
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The Brazilian Social Democracy Party (Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira) is a political party in Brazil.
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History
The Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira (Portuguese for Brazilian Social Democracy Party) is one of the biggest and most important Center-Left, and Social Democracy political party in Brazil. It was founded in June 25, 1988, having "democracy as a fundamental value"and "social justice" as aim to be reached. The foundation of the party bringing together different political groups as "Social Democrats","progressive liberals", "Christian democrats" and "democratic socialists". All of these groups have the same history at that time: A democratic battle against the Dictatorial militarship, since 1964, according to the party's manifesto.
The PSDB was created at a very significant moment in the history of Brazilian politics. On April 21, 1985, the Brazilian people witnessed the premature death of Tancredo Neves, the last president not elected directly by the people since the beginning of the dictatorial government.
The party began to form during the 1988 National Constitutional Assembly. A high proportion of the first members of the party came from the so-called "historic PMDB". This was and still is a very large party with many internal conflicts. The creators of the PSDB were dissatisfied with the results of the Constitutional Assembly, and decided to create a party to reflect the need for national political renewal. As the manifesto states, the new party was created "away from the official benefits, but close to the pulsing of the streets" (speech by a leader of the party: Franco Montoro). Some of the founding members was Jose Serra, who ran and lost for president against Luís Inácio Lula da Silva in 2002 General Elections; Mario Covas (Governor of São Paulo State 1994-1998/1998-2001); Franco Montoro (Governor of São Paulo State 1982-1986),Fernando Henrique Cardoso (President of Brazil 1994-2002), Aécio Neves (Governor of Minas Gerais State 2002-), Geraldo Alckmin (Governor of São Paulo State 2001-).
In the ending of the 70's a group of brazilian's social-democrats intellectuals, made a lot of reunions to create a Left party. They like to made a approach with the new syndicalist's movement (Comanded by Lula) and create that party. But they have a division, one groupe wanted to create a Social-Democratic party, ande other group wanted to create a Socialist Party. The Socialist's joined the sydicalist and founded the PT-Partido dos trabalhadores (Worker's Party), and the other group years later founded the first Social-Democratic Party of Brazil (PSDB).
Modern times
Many years after its creation, the PSDB grew faster than any other party in the history of Brazil, with an astonishingly good performance in elections at all levels. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso enjoyed eight years (1994-2002) of political stability and neoliberal reforms, specially focused on privatizations.
Because of the party magnitude, many members don't have proper conditions to preach the real principles in which it was founded or are not able to do so with the same force as its leading members. Yet, it remains one of the most democratic parties in the country and undoubtedly plays an important role in the current new era of Brazilian politics.
Political alignment
The PSDB questions the use of outdated political labels, such as "left" and "right". To quote a document elaborated by Fernando Henrique Cardoso´s office in 1990.
"If left means to be against the existent social order, and right in favor, the social-democracy is without doubt a left current.
"A social democrat is before anything someone who has critical sense — who perceives the injustices of the society and has no fear in opposing to them, even taking the risk of being taken as a subversive or dreamer."
After Cardoso's government, however, the inherent contradiction of politcal forces in Brazil was perceived due to the neoliberal wave adopted during his presidential period. Altough the party seemed not to preach nationalization or privatization in general ("the consensus is that the state must not be too big or too small, but "have the size and functions corresponding to the needs of the whole of society"), president FHC has privatized many public companies, such as Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD)
In the last legislative elections, 6 October 2002, the party won 71 out of 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 11 out of 81 seats in the Federal Senate. In the presidential elections held at the same time, its candidate, José Serra, came second in the first round. In the run-off he lost, with 38.7% of the votes, to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
External links
- Official web site
- http://www.itv.org.br (Official Site of Institute of Political studies of the party)
