MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Municipal elections in Brazil, electoral test for 2010

Brazil ruling party eyes gains in municipal vote

Brazilians on Sunday will go to the polls to elect mayors and city councils in more than 5,500 municipal areas. It will be the last significant electoral test in South America's largest country before the presidential elections in 2010.

Candidates from the ruling Workers Party, PT, from President Lula da Silva and thirteen allied parties are expected to win in the country's main urban centers. Among the 79 largest cities, 13 are ruled by the PT and in 33 they are ahead in public opinion polls, according to O'Globo. Center party Brazilian Democratic Movement, PMDB, belonging to the coalition is expected to win in 22 of the 79 cities while the opposition Social Democrats, PSDB is expected to take 20. President Lula da Silva's charisma that after five years in government enjoys an approval rating close to 80%, is the main driving force for the ruling coalition and its candidates. A total of 128 million Brazilians are registered to vote for mayors in 5.563 cities and towns and 52.137 city councilors. For urban centers with more than 200.000 people a run off is scheduled for October 26 if there's not a 50% plus one vote in tomorrow's voting. "It is very possible that the PT ends controlling 600 mayors in tomorrow's election, up from 411 in the 2004", said David Fleischer Political Science professor. All along the country most candidates have campaigned associating their image to that of President Lula da Silva and the opposition has abstained from criticizing him. However the president has been reluctant to get involved in the campaign, the exception is the biggest prize of all: the city of Sao Paulo. Former mayor Marta Suplicy seems en route to victory, benefited by campaigning from President Lula da Silva and because the opposition had divided with two candidates. In Rio do Janeiro the PMDB seems poised to take city hall, leading comfortably in the opinion polls. He is well ahead of the PT hopeful and the evangelist candidate, a significant force, since an evangelist is governor. Anyhow Sunday's outcome will give an idea of possible candidates for the presidential race of 2010. Interestingly enough Lula da Silva has said he has the right to pick his successor and eyes seem set on cabinet chief Dilma Rousseff, but if Ms Suplicy takes Sao Paulo she is also expected to throw her hat in the ring. Joao Paulo Peixoto, Professor of Government at the University of Brasilia said that the result will give us a new electoral map of the country regarding 2010. Sao Paulo will be especially important for that matter."