Brazil’s Congress Shifts Right After Election

Brazil’s Congress has shifted to the right after elections that strengthened the Liberal Party, a change expected to shape the legislative agenda regardless of the outcome of the presidential runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro and incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Liberal Party gained 23 seats in the 513-member lower house and nearly doubled its Senate representation, while Lula’s Workers Party retained roughly the same number of seats, according to election reporting. Party totals could change if elected lawmakers switch affiliations. The incoming Congress is expected to take office in February 2027. If right-wing and centrist lawmakers cooperate, they could hold a simple majority in the lower house and potentially build a broader coalition capable of amending the constitution. A similar alignment is expected in the Senate. The election reporting does not establish how consistently those lawmakers will vote together. Bolsonaro-aligned lawmakers have said they want to impeach Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw an investigation into former President Jair Bolsonaro. The effort would require 54 Senate votes. Other proposals from right-leaning lawmakers...