Marcela Rebelo
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - The president of the Chamber, Deputy Severino Cavalcanti (PP-PE), affirmed today (10) that he hopes the vote on political reform will take place before September 30. He stressed the importance of the reform to avoid further crises in the country.

"The Congress faces the imperative obligation to approve changes in the electoral and party legislation, to improve our electoral system, and avoid the repetition of previous errors," the deputy remarked at the opening of the International Conference on Challenges and Prospects for the Strengthening of Brazilian Political Institutions.

The deputy affirmed that Brazil is not the only country faced with a crisis in consequence of party finances. "The largest Western democracies are periodically swept by charges of corruption, demanding reform of the existing machinery."

Cavalcanti underscored the need to reinforce party loyalty. According to him, 161 lawmakers switched parties in the current legislature. Regarding political rallies-cum-shows in election campaigns, the president said he is opposed. "Various legislators who represent economic forces obtain everything, and those who don't, get nothing. So let's standardize things," he said.

Translation: David Silberstein