Renan defends cap on contributions to candidates.

247 - The president of the Senate, Renan Calheiros (PMDB-AL), demanded this Monday, the 1st, a more profound political reform of the Brazilian electoral system. The senator defended the approval of issues such as the establishment of a barrier clause to reduce the emergence of small parties, the setting of a contribution ceiling for candidates, and the strengthening of political parties.

"It is important to establish a threshold clause that prohibits the creation of 'nano-party lists' and to put an end to the promiscuity between the public and private sectors, setting a contribution ceiling so that the candidate has no owner and the elected official has no boss. Our political-party system is still very anachronistic and outdated. This is the great opportunity we have to reform it," said Renan.

The political reform proposals approved by the Chamber in recent weeks bring about almost no change to the current model in force in the country. The end of reelection is one of the only points that alters the current system, but the deputies did not define whether the mandates of those elected should be extended beyond the current four years.

Renan said it is the "obligation" of the Legislative branch to define the most democratic way for the population to choose their politicians. "If we don't do it, at this unique moment of protagonism for the Legislative branch, others will. We need to improve politics so that improved politics helps improve Brazil."