Right-wing merger aims to form Brazil's largest political party
October 6, 2021
4:34 PM CDT
Last Updated 7 hours ago
Americas
Reuters
2 minute read
BRASILIA, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Two right-wing political parties in Brazil decided on Wednesday to join forces to become the country's largest political party, with plans to field an alternative to President Jair Bolsonaro in next year's elections.
The Democratas (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL), which Bolsonaro joined ahead of his 2018 campaign, will have a combined 82 seats in the 513-member lower chamber of Congress, a larger grouping than the left-wing Workers Party (PT) with 53.
The merger must still be approved by Brazil's top electoral authority, but the new party, called Uniao Brasil, could shake up a 2022 presidential race that now looks polarized between the far-right Bolsonaro and former leftist President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.
Lula, who founded the Workers Party and served as president from 2003-2010, holds a commanding double-digit lead in opinion polls over Bolsonaro, whose popularity has plummeted over his handling of the world's second-deadliest COVID-19 outbreak, high unemployment and rising inflation.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/right-wing-merger-aims-form-brazils-largest-political-party-2021-10-06/