Today last day for Brazil reps to change parties without being ousted
The period in which federal, state, and district representatives are allowed to change parties without being stripped of office ends today (Apr. 1), as the janela partidária—literally “party window,” as the time span is referred to—is brought to an end, 30 days after its beginning, on March 3.
One of the parties that received the most members this year was the PL, which President Jair Bolsonaro joined to run the election. The party received over than 20 representatives and closed the day with 69 seats in the lower house the day before the deadline, thus occupying the largest party bench.
The movement included those unhappy with the DEM–PSL merger, which resulted in União Brasil, with 81 representatives at its foundation, compared to 52 yesterday (Mar. 31).
Now, a few hours before the end of the term, the second largest party in the Brazilian lower house is still the PT, with 53 members so far. Also among the six largest benches are the PP (49), the Republicans (44) and the PSD (41). The numbers may still change by the end of the day.
The rules
The janela partidária opens for 30 days in each electoral cycle, allowing members of political parties to change their affiliation without being removed from office for party disloyalty.
The period is laid out in Brazil’s electoral law. The window starts every election year, six months before the election. This year, the janela partidária for switching parties spanned from March 3 through April 1.
The time span is among the only opportunities representatives have to to change parties while holding an office. Other chances are provided when a new political party is created, when a party is abolished or merges with another, when the party is found to deviate from its program, and when severe personal discrimination takes place. Any change of party affiliation not fitting into these categories may lead to the loss of the lawmaker’s mandate.
