1978 Brazilian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Brazil on 15 November 1978.[1] The pro-government National Renewal Alliance Party (ARENA) won 231 of the 420 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 15 of the 23 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 81.7%.[2]

1978 Brazilian parliamentary election
Brazil
15 November 1978
Chamber of Deputies
422 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
PartyLeader % Seats +/–
Chamber of Deputies
ARENA Ernesto Geisel 50.42 231 +28
MDB 49.58 191 +30
Senate
23 seats in the Senate
PartyLeader % Seats
MDB 57.07 8
ARENA Ernesto Geisel 42.93 15
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They were the last elections held under a mandatory two-party system, as reforms were enacted in 1979 by Brazil's governing military junta, represented in Congress by ARENA, to allow a multi-party system to emerge in an effort to combat the growing popularity of the opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) by splitting their vote.[3]

Electoral system

In 1977 the electoral system had been reformed, making the election of senators indirect. As with the 1979 reforms, this was primarily done in response to the growth of the Brazilian Democratic Movement.[3] The Senate election saw the MDB win only eight of the 23 seats, despite receiving 57% of the vote.[4]

Results

Chamber of Deputies
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
National Renewal Alliance15,053,38750.42231+28
Brazilian Democratic Movement14,803,52649.58191+30
Total29,856,913100.00422+58
Valid votes29,856,91379.35
Invalid/blank votes7,770,91020.65
Total votes37,627,823100.00
Registered voters/turnout46,985,46680.08
Source: Nohlen

Senate
PartyVotes%Seats
Brazilian Democratic Movement17,432,94857.078
National Renewal Alliance13,116,19442.9315
Total30,549,142100.0023
Valid votes30,549,14281.46
Invalid/blank votes6,952,13918.54
Total votes37,501,281100.00
Registered voters/turnout45,864,90181.76
Source: Nohlen

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p. 173 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
  2. Nohlen, p. 175
  3. Nohlen, p. 166
  4. Nohlen, pp. 212–228
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