Brazil Union

Political party in Brazil

Brazil Union

União Brasil

Abbreviation| UNIÃO
President| Luciano Bivar[1][2]
Secretary-General| ACM Neto
Founded| 6 October 2021; 3 years ago (6 October 2021)[3]
Registered| 8 February 2022; 3 years ago (8 February 2022)
Merger of| Democrats
Social Liberal Party
Membership| 1,085,680[4]
Ideology| Liberal conservatism[5][6]
Economic liberalism[7]
Political position| Centre-right[5][8]
National affiliation| Progressive Union
International affiliation| International Democracy Union
Colours|  Blue
Sky blue
Yellow
White
Slogan| "Union, Brazil!"
TSE Identification Number| 44
Chamber of Deputies|

59 / 513

Federal Senate|

9 / 81

Governorships|

3 / 27

State Assemblies|

129 / 1,024

Mayors|

552 / 5,570

City Councillors|

5,546 / 56,810

Website
uniaobrasil.org.br

* Politics of Brazil
* Political parties
* Elections

The Brazil Union (Portuguese: União Brasil) is a liberal-conservative political party in Brazil. The party was founded on 6 October 2021 through the merger of the Democrats (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL). The merger resulted in the biggest party in Brazil, and was approved by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court on 8 February 2022.[2][8][9][10][11]

The party is generally split on opposition to Jair Bolsonaro and is most often in opposition to the policies of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, nominating Soraya Thronicke for president in 2022 Brazilian general election. In 2022, it was reported the party was in talks with the Progressistas to form the largest bloc in Congress. The formation of the alliance, the Progressive Union, was approved in April 2025, making the broader federation, the largest bloc in Congress.[12][13]

## History

[edit]

### Prelude to the merger

[edit]

The Democrats was one of the largest parties on the Brazilian right, being the successor of the Liberal Front Party (PFL), which had been founded by a dissident faction of the Democratic Social Party, which in turn had succeeded the ARENA, the governing party of Brazil’s military dictatorship. The PSL had been founded as a social-liberal party, but after the election of Jair Bolsonaro as President, it started to position itself as a more socially conservative and economically liberal party.[14][15]

In 2017, Constitutional Amendment 97 was enacted, which established a progressive barrier clause, with that Brazilian political parties have free access to radio and television in electoral campaigns, as well as federal funds. Likewise, the amendment prohibited the formation of political coalitions to contest proportional elections.[16] The purpose of the amendment was to reduce the number of political parties in Brazil.[17]

Luciano Bivar and ACM Neto at the convention that officialised the creation of the party

The first news that emerged proposing the merger was at the end of 2019, during the crisis that culminated in the departure of Jair Bolsonaro from the PSL along with many of his core supporters and by the departure of several historical members of DEM, such as mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes, the former president of the Chamber Rodrigo Maia and the vice governor of the state of São Paulo Rodrigo Garcia, in addition to bad election results of PSL in the municipal elections.[18][9]

At the time, there was opposition, with ACM Neto, president of Democratas, stating that this union would be meaningless and Felipe Francischini, president of the Constitution and Justice Commission in the Chamber of Deputies, saying that the union would make both parties lose space in politics.[16][17]

Since then, some political parties merged with others.[14][19][20] Using this precedent, in 2021, the Social Liberal Party (PSL) and Democrats announced the upcoming merger.[14][15]

### Merger formalized and departure of Bolsonaro wing

[edit]

The name along with the TSE number 44 was chosen at the end of September 2021. The merger was agreed upon on 6 October 2021 by an acclamation on a national convention containing representatives from both parties, and was legally approved by the Superior Electoral Court on 8 February 2022.[21]

In the 2018 elections, the predecessor parties (DEM and PSL) elected 81 federal deputies, so that, on the date of the merger, the party had the largest number of members in the Chamber of Deputies. With the merger however, more core Bolsonaro supporters left the party for the Liberal Party and the Progressistas, given that the party wanted to run its own presidential candidate. In April 2022, the party had 46 members in the Chamber of Deputies, ranking fifth among the parties in the House.[19][20][22]

### 2022 general elections

[edit]

See also: 2022 Brazilian general election

Committing to its attempt to nominate a presidential candidate in the 2022 Brazilian general election, the party nominated Soraya Thronicke, a lawyer and senator from Mato Grasso do Sul, as their presidential candidate and Marcos Cintra, an economist and federal deputy for São Paulo, as vice-president.[21] While Thronicke was not elected, the party itself won the gubernatorial race on Amazonas, Goiás, Mato Grosso and Rondônia.[23] On parliamentary elections they also had success, electing 59 Federal Deputies and 7 Senators.[24] One of them was former Operation Car Wash lead judge Sergio Moro, elected as a Senator for Paraná.

### Lula administration

[edit]

See also: Second cabinet of Lula da Silva

The party accepted 3 ministry posts in the Lula government.[25] Luciano Bivar announced that the party would not be in opposition to the new government, but neither would be part of the governist base, despite the three ministry posts.[26][25]

## Ideology

[edit]

This article is part of a series on

Conservatism in Brazil

Ideologies

* Bolsonarism
* Christian right
* Coronelism
* Integralism
* Janismo
* Liberal conservatism
* Free Brazil Movement
* Monarchism
* Patrianovism
* Nationalism
* Populism

Principles

* Agrarianism
* Anti-communism
* Authority
* Family values
* Federalism
* Gun rights
* Law and order
* Lusotropicalism
* Militarism
* Multiracialism
* Patriotism
* Traditionalism

History

* Jair Bolsonaro campaign
* Brazilian Miracle
* Colonial Brazil
* Empire of Brazil
* Kingdom of Brazil
* Military dictatorship in Brazil

Intellectuals

* Campos
* Carpeaux
* Carvalho
* Corção
* Corrêa de Oliveira
* Francis
* Freyre
* Lacombe
* Léo
* Lobato
* Mourão
* Oliveira Lima
* Oliveira Torres
* Paulo Ricardo
* Pinto
* Reale
* Roquette-Pinto
* Rodríguez
* Santos
* Silva
* Simonsen
* Tolentino
* Viana

Politicians

* Andrada e Silva
* Araújo Lima
* Bolsonaro
* Carneiro
* Castelo Branco
* Ferreira
* Fidelix
* Freitas
* Lacerda
* Maluf
* Médici
* Nabuco
* Santos
* Getúlio Vargas (early)
* Zema

Parties

Active

* Brazil Union
* Brazilian Labour Renewal Party
* Brazilian Woman's Party
* Christian Democracy
* Democratic Renewal Party
* Liberal Party
* New Resistance
* Progressistas
* Republicans

Defunct

* Alliance for Brazil
* Brazilian Integralist Action
* Brazilian Labour Party
* Conservative Party
* Conservative Republican Party
* Democratic Social Party
* Democrats
* Fluminense Republican Party
* National Democratic Union
* Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order
* Patriota
* Popular Representation Party
* Social Christian Party
* Social Liberal Party

Organisations

* Black Guard
* Diretório Monárquico do Brasil
* Evangelical Caucus
* Imperial Patrianovist Guard
* União Democrática Ruralista

Media

* Gazeta do Povo
* O Tempo

Related topics

* BBB Bench
* Bolsominion
* Brazilian nobility
* Fidalgo
* O Presidente Negro (1926)
* Politics of Brazil
* Liberalism
* Socialism

* Conservatism portal
* Brazil portal

* v
* t
* e

Brazil Union is considered a centre-right party.[27] Political scientist Vinícius Vieira describes the merger as being a Brazilian version of liberal parties, focused on capitalizing on the right-wing electorate who have become disillusioned with President Jair Bolsonaro.[28] PSL vice president Junior Bozzella placed the new party as part of the democratic pole and which seeks to avoid political polarization between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Jair Bolsonaro, stating that radical Bolsonaro supporters would have to leave the party.

At the foundation, a manifesto was defined that affirms the political positions of Brazil Union, with its four guidelines:

* The value of democracy as a political system based on tolerance, plurality, respect and dialogue;
* The value of the State as guarantor of the population's basic social rights;
* The value of freedom as a condition for seeking individual fulfillment;
* The value of the family as the mainstay of the person and the basis of society.[29][30]

The manifesto also defined 44 basic principles of the party. In economics, although advocating fiscal austerity, privatization and tax cuts, the party is against the minimal state,[31] stating that the state has an important role in areas such as education, healthcare, and income transfer programs. On social issues, it positions itself as favorable to the preservation of the Brazilian family and culture, also defending the increase in the participation of women and racial minorities in politics. Furthermore, it states that the existence of climate change is evident and that the government must take immediate action to mitigate this, becoming one of first decidedly pro-business parties to do so.[15]

## Notable members

[edit]

* Luciano Bivar, former national president of the Social Liberal Party, Federal Deputy for Pernambuco, and candidate for president in 2006
* Ronaldo Caiado, former Federal Deputy, former Senator, Governor of Goiás, and candidate for president in 1989
* Clarissa Garotinho, daughter of Anthony Garotinho, former city councilor, and former Federal Deputy for Rio de Janeiro
* Kim Kataguiri, YouTube personality, anti-Dilma activist, and Federal Deputy for São Paulo
* ACM Neto, former national president of the Democrats, general secretary of Brazil Union, and former Mayor of Salvador
* Sergio Moro, ex-federal judge, pre-candidate for president, and chief investigator in Operation Car Wash
* Soraya Thronicke, businesswoman, Senator for Mato Grasso do Sul, and candidate for president in 2022
* Capitão Wagner, military captain, former city councilor for Fortaleza, and Federal Deputy for Ceará
* Fausto Junior, politician, and Federal Deputy for Amazonas

Sergio Moro in 2016

* Leonardo Framil Lobo Santos, Digital Creator of Facebook personality and Politician of Lambari Brazil

## Electoral results

[edit]

### Presidential election

[edit]

Election  | Candidate  | Running mate  | Coalition  | First round  | Second round  | Result

|
|
|
|
|
|

Votes  | %  | Votes  | %
2022 | Soraya Thronicke | Marcos Cintra | None | 600,953  | 0.51  | –  | –  | Lost

### Legislative election

[edit]

Election  | Chamber of Deputies | Federal Senate | Status

|
|
|

Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/–  | Votes  | %  | Seats  | +/–
2022 | 10,262,001  | 9.3  |

59 / 513

| New | 5,465,486  | 7.5  |

7 / 81

| New | Independent

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "União Brasil". Superior Electoral Court (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 March 2024.
2. ^ a b Renato Alves (6 October 2021). "Convenção marca junção de PSL-DEM e surgimento do União Brasil". O Tempo (in Portuguese).
3. ^ "Convenção Coletiva formaliza fusão do PSL e DEM, criando o União Brasil". Gazeta do Povo (in Portuguese). 5 October 2021.
4. ^ "Estatísticas do eleitorado – Eleitores filiados". TSE (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
5. ^ a b Marco Aurélio Nogueira (7 October 2021). "Uma fusão para mexer nas peças do jogo político". Estadão (in Portuguese). Retrieved 8 October 2021.
6. ^ João Almeida Moreira (6 October 2021). "Direita cria maior partido do Brasil para fazer frente a Lula e Bolsonaro". Diário de Notícias. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
7. ^ "Manifesto União Brasil" (PDF). Democratas (in Portuguese). 6 October 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
8. ^ a b "Fusão pode ser referência de uma direita sem Bolsonaro". Nexo Jornal (in Portuguese). 6 October 2021.
9. ^ a b "TSE aprova registro do partido União Brasil". www.tse.jus.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
10. ^ "Qual deve ser a cara do novo União Brasil, partido resultado da fusão de DEM e PSL?". correio braziliense (in Portuguese). 6 October 2021.
11. ^ "União Brasil fortalece muito pré-candidatura de ACM Neto ao governo', diz Bruno Reis" (in Portuguese). 6 October 2021.
12. ^ Jubé, Andrea (28 April 2025). "Union Brazil, Progressive Party to merge forces ahead of 2026 elections". valorinternational (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 30 April 2025.
13. ^ "Lira confirma fusão entre PP e União Brasil após reunião com Rueda". Poder360 (in Brazilian Portuguese). October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
14. ^ a b c "Plenário do TSE aprova incorporação do PRP ao Patriota" (in Portuguese). 28 March 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
15. ^ a b c ""A miríade de partidos que temos confunde o eleitor, favorece o fisiologismo", diz manifesto do União Brasil". O Antagonista (in Brazilian Portuguese). 6 October 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
16. ^ a b "Emenda Constitucional nº 97 de 4 de outubro de 2017" (in Portuguese). 4 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
17. ^ a b "O Brasil está no caminho para reduzir o número de partidos?". Nexo Jornal (in Portuguese). 13 November 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
18. ^ "Fusão PSL-DEM: o que está por trás do acordo para criar novo partido". Gazeta do Povo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 6 October 2021.
19. ^ a b "O Plenário aprova incorporação do PPL ao PCdoB" (in Portuguese). 28 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
20. ^ a b "O Plenário aprova incorporação do PHS ao Podemos" (in Portuguese). 19 September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
21. ^ a b "DEM aprova, por aclamação, fusão com PSL; novo partido se chamará União Brasil". G1 (in Portuguese). 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
22. ^ "Janela de trocas tem 132 deputados em novos partidos". Poder360 (in Brazilian Portuguese). April 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
23. ^ "PT e União Brasil lideram entre partidos com mais governadores eleitos". noticias.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
24. ^ "Eleições 2022: veja todos os deputados federais eleitos no Brasil". Exame (in Brazilian Portuguese). 3 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
25. ^ a b ingridalfaya. "União Brasil não será base de Lula mesmo com ministérios, diz presidente do partido à CNN". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 1 January 2023.
26. ^ ""O partido não estará em oposição ao governo", diz Bivar". O Antagonista (in Brazilian Portuguese). 1 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
27. ^ "'Fusão pode ser referência de uma direita sem Bolsonaro'". Nexo Jornal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 24 September 2022.
28. ^ "Direita cria maior partido do Brasil para fazer frente a Lula e Bolsonaro". www.dn.pt (in European Portuguese). 6 October 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
29. ^ Amaral Oliveira, Talita (23 February 2021). "A (des)industrialização brasileira em tempos de pandemia". Revista Vianna Sapiens. 12 (1): 28. doi:10.31994/rvs.v12i1.737. ISSN 2177-3726. S2CID 233898812.
30. ^ JESUS, D. (2022). Governança de commodity em um mundo cosmopolita: a certificação Bonsucro na relação Brasil-União Europeia. doi:10.48021/978-65-252-3898-2. ISBN 9786525238982. S2CID 169343095.
31. ^ "Imposto Único Federal: conheça a proposta de Soraya Thronicke". União Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.

Preceded by

43 – GP (PV)

|  Numbers of Brazilian Official Political Parties
44 – UNION (UNIÃO)  | Succeeded by

45 – BSDP (PSDB)

|
|

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in Brazil

Parties represented in
the Chamber of Deputies
(513 seats)|

* Liberal Party (97)
* Workers' Party (68)
* Brazil Union (59)
* Progressives (50)
* Brazilian Democratic Movement (43)
* Social Democratic Party (43)
* Republicans (41)
* Democratic Labour Party (18)
* Brazilian Socialist Party (15)
* We Can (15)
* Brazilian Social Democracy Party (14)
* Socialism and Liberty Party (13)
* Communist Party of Brazil (7)
* Forward (7)
* Green Party (6)
* Citizenship (4)
* Democratic Renewal Party (5)
* Solidarity (4)
* New Party (3)
* Sustainability Network (1)

Parties represented
in the Federal Senate
(81 seats)|

* Social Democratic Party (15)
* Liberal Party (12)
* Brazilian Democratic Movement (11)
* Workers' Party (8)
* Brazil Union (7)
* Progressives (6)
* Brazilian Socialist Party (4)
* Republicans (4)
* We Can (4)
* Democratic Labour Party (3)
* Brazilian Social Democracy Party (2)
* New Party (1)

Other registered parties|

* Act
* Brazilian Communist Party
* Brazilian Labour Renewal Party
* Brazilian Woman's Party
* Christian Democracy
* National Mobilization
* Popular Unity
* United Socialist Workers' Party
* Workers' Cause Party

Unregistered active parties|

* Libertarians
* Pirate Party
* Revolutionary Communist Party

Defunct parties|

* Alliance for Brazil
* Brazilian Black Front
* Brazilian Integralist Action
* Brazilian Labour Party (1945)
* Brazilian Labour Party (1981)
* Catholic Electoral League
* Christian Democratic Party
* Conservative Party
* Conservative Republican Party
* Democratic Party
* Democratic Social Party
* Democrats
* Evolutionist Liberal Party of Ceará
* Federal Republican Party
* Fluminense Republican Party
* Free Fatherland Party
* Gaúcho United Front
* Humanist Party of Solidarity
* Liberal Party (1831)
* Liberal Party (1985)
* Liberator Party
* Mineiro Republican Party
* National Democratic Union
* National Renewal Alliance
* Orienting Labour Party
* Party of Popular Representation
* Party of the Christian Democracy of Brazil
* Party of the Nation's Retirees
* Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order
* Patriot
* Paulista Republican Party
* Progressive League
* Progressive Republican Party
* Progressive Party
* Proletarian Liberation Party
* Reform Progressive Party
* Renovator Labour Party
* Republican Party
* Republican Party of the Social Order
* Retirees' National Party of Brazil
* Rio-grandense Republican Party
* Social Christian Party
* Social Democratic Party (1945)
* Social Democratic Party (1987)
* Social Labour Party
* Social Liberal Party
* Social Progressive Party
* Socialist Republican Party of Ceará
* Syndicalist Popular Party
* Workers' General Party

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