Bancadas temáticas como alternativa para formação de base de apoio legislativa: a relação entre o Executivo e a bancada ruralista na 56ª Legislatura

Abstract

This dissertation aims to contribute to the understanding of the thematic caucuses and parliamentary fronts in the Brazilian legislative process. Taking advantage of the early Bolsonaro government strategy of negotiating only with these organizations, we sought to understand whether this is a viable alternative for the Executive to obtain legislative support. To this end, a brief discussion is made on the literature of coalitions, with greater attention to the Brazilian context, and studies on these legislative members organizations. Afterwards, an analysis is made of the ruralist caucus in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies during the 56th legislature and its relationship with the other parties and the Executive. It is demonstrated that members of the thematic caucus are more disciplined than the average representative of the Chamber, and they do not differ from the average representative of their parties, even in subjects of the caucus’ interest or propositions of the Executive. It concludes that there is no evidence that thematic caucuses are able to encourage parliamentary behavior independent of parties.