PRESIDENTIAL COMPETITION AND THE QUALITY OF DEMOCRACY IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of political competition for the Brazilian presidency of the Republic, since 2001. It reflects on the presidential competition, mainly with regard to the following topics: (i) competition among parties, (ii) competition within the parties, and (iii) the results of the competition. From the perspective of research on the quality of democracy, it is argued that the presidential competition is crucial in the development of the political regime in Brazil.