BATISTA, J. N. M.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2313880735401557; BATISTA, Jader Nilton Maia.
Resumo:
This research is aimed at analyzing the trajectory of the PMDB (Partido do Movimento
Democrático Brasileiro; Brazilian Democratic Movement Party), its strategies in the
formalization of coalition presidentialism, and the impacts caused by its reverting to its
former name (MDB) in 2017, as well as the factors that caused the implosion of the
coalition it supported, formed with the PT (Partido dos Trabalhadores, Workers’
Party), in 2016. The study examines the party’s main actors’ moves in the Legislative
arena, as well as those of the Executive Power, which sought their support in order to
guarantee the govemability and approval of projects. Furthermore, this research tries to
shed light upon the factors that led to the destabilization of the ruling coalition and the
split between the PMDB and the PT, thus also leading to the impeachment of Dilma
Rousseff. The time frame focuses especially on the govemments of Fernando Henrique
Cardoso, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva, and Dilma Rousseff, while trying to highlight the
demands and efiforts that led to each one’s getting the PMDB’s support in order to
strengthen the goveming base. The research also extends its focus to the PMDB
govemmenfs power of agenda-setting after RoussefFs impeachment, especially the
determining point of its breakup with the PT, namely the “Bridge to the Future”
program, which culminated in the approval of the so-called “Expenditure Ceiling” and
the labor reform. For this purpose, data referring to cabinet formation and roll-call
votes, as well as data firom the press, were all gathered. These quantitative data help the
verification process, from a qualitative viewpoint, allowing to conclude that it is
possible to find values associated with market platforms that operate by intervening in
the coalition, thus forging a behavior of evading what is usually expected as far as a
govemance pact is concemed.