Democracy, parliamentary representation, and the political functioning of the state are constantly debated, developed, and subject to changes in legal rules regarding their operation. Between 2015 and 2017, there were electoral legislation changes that altered election financing, campaign time, debate participation, and the end of proportional coalitions. More recently, the reservation of resources for women, Black people, and indigenous peoples.
Among these changes, we want to highlight here the performance clause, or as it is more commonly known, the barrier clause. Starting in 2018, parties were required to demonstrate an "electoral performance" to continue accessing the Party Fund - monthly resources allocated to party operations - and free advertising on television and radio. The performance clause considers a continuous progression of results or goals to be achieved, so that parties must meet at least two out of three requirements.
Thus, for a party to maintain its full representation, it was necessary that:
- It obtain at least 1.5% in 2018, reaching 2.5% of the sum of valid votes for the Federal Congress nationwide in 2026;
- It obtain at least 1% in 2018, reaching 1.5% of valid votes for the Federal Congress in nine states in 2026;
- It elect at least nine federal deputies in 2018, reaching 13 this year, distributed across nine states;
This progressive "performance" rule leads to a contradiction: a party can exist, be founded with great popular effort, but be excluded from the conditions for its political action. Not accessing the Party Fund means not having resources for its minimum operation. Just consider that accounting services are needed for annual reporting, and legal services for party representation, among other daily needs.
In another direction, not accessing free advertising on television and radio reduces public debate, considering the party's inability to share its agendas and discussion topics in these spheres. These conditions lead to a de facto existence, but at the same time, to an amorphous and inconsistent presence in politics.
Since its inception, PSOL has made the occupation of the parliament a part of its task, aiming to influence public debates and effectively contribute to the defense of life and rights. From this understanding, overcoming the barriers clause becomes a necessity for our parliamentary actions in the Federal Congress to resonate with the strategy of a party that organizes from the base and builds its politics in daily life.
In these elections, two agendas coincide for progressive and left-wing parties: ensuring that democracy prevails in our country, so we can avoid social, economic, and political setbacks; and preserving combative parties in full political action conditions. These are complementary agendas, considering the urgency of halting the advances of the right and extreme right in Brazil and Latin America.
We understand that those elected in these elections should advance in the struggle for an end to the 6X1 scale; against misogyny, racism, homophobia, and transfobia; for the protection of childhood and aging with national care policies; for climate and environmental policies that protect and ensure the lives of future generations; for the protection of indigenous and traditional territories; and for economic reparations for the Black population.
*Mônica Vilaça is the state president of PSOL-PB.
**This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily represent the editorial line ofBrazil de Fato..