Country In Brief
Since the end of military rule in 1985, Brazil has undertaken numerous political reforms on its path towards democratic consolidation. Elections have become increasingly free and fair as judged by international standards, and the 2002 election resulted in the ascendance of the main opposition party, the Worker’s Party.
However, obstacles still remain to the continued development of Brazilian democracy, including a relatively weak political party system characterized by frequent switches between parties. The recent scandal involving the ruling Worker’s Party is an indication of the seriousness of the issue.