Iolando Lourenço and Marcos Chagas
Reporters Agência Brasil

Brasília - At least in number of candidates it is the biggest race for the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies in Brazilian history. No less than ten candidates from seven different political parties (out of a total of 20 parties represented in the Chamber) are in the running to serve out a term of office that runs from now until February 2, 2007. The election campaign has lasted only a week, beginning with the resignation of the former president, Severino Cavalcanti (PP-PE), last Wednesday, but it has been characterized by furious political jockeying.

Precisely because of the large number of candidates and all the jockeying, the situation is considered extremely fluid. According to Mozart Vianna, the Chamber secretary general, who will oversee the election, there may be last minute alliances with the result that someone will pull out of the race.

The election process gets underway this morning with each candidate having 15 minutes to present his platform. After that, voting will begin as soon as 257 deputies are present in the Chamber.

If no one gets a majority (257 votes) on the first vote, which is considered almost certain with ten candidates in the field, there will be a second vote between the two candidates with the most votes in the first vote.

It is expected that the new president will be known by 10:00 pm.

The ten candidates are: Aldo Rebelo (PCdoB-SP), José Thomáz Nonô (PFL-AL), Michel Temer (PMDB-SP), Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), Francisco Dornelles (PP-RJ), Wanderley Assis (PP-SP), Jair Bolsonaro (PP-RJ), Luiz Antônio Fleury Filho (PTB-SP), João Caldas (PL-AL) and Alceu Colares (PDT-RS).

Translator: Allen Bennett