Political Disorder and Gender Barriers Heighten Tensions Ahead of Brazil’s 2026 Elections

As Brazil approaches its 2026 elections, the political climate is marked by growing disorder and significant barriers to political participation for marginalized groups, especially women. Recent developments in Brasília illustrate a fracturing political landscape with decreasing space for consensus. Supreme Federal Court (STF) Minister Gilmar Mendes lifted restrictions on impeachment requests against STF ministers, a move aimed at easing tensions between the STF and the Senate. Concurrently, the Chamber of Deputies passed legislation reducing penalties for former President Jair Bolsonaro, while the Senate showed little urgency in advancing the Dosimetria bill, potentially postponing it to next year. These actions collectively signal increasing political chaos and fragmentation, raising concerns about Brazil’s electoral stability.

Amid this turmoil, the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC) highlighted stark gender and racial inequalities in political participation during a recent webinar focusing on the Baixada Fluminense region. Research presented showed that women, particularly Black women, face entrenched resistance and symbolic attacks that severely limit their political involvement. Brazil currently ranks 133rd globally for female representation in legislatures, despite women comprising over half of the electorate. Historical and ongoing political violence, including the 2016 impeachment of Dilma Rousseff and the 2018 assassination of activist Marielle Franco, exacerbates these barriers.

Data from the webinar illustrated this disparity: in Queimados, only five women have held legislative office in 30 years, and no woman has ever led the executive branch; Japeri has never elected a woman to its municipal council. Experts emphasized the prevalence of “candidaturas laranja” (dummy female candidates) and other manipulative tactics that undermine gender quotas. Noëlle Silva of the MDHC stressed the urgency of educational efforts and coordinated strategies to counter political violence against women, especially during the 21 days of activism against violence toward women.

These developments underscore a climate of political instability and exclusion in Brazil’s upcoming election cycle, raising vital questions about the country's capacity for inclusive democracy and fair political engagement in 2026.