Brazilian general elections, 2006

Brazilian presidential election, 2006

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Nominee Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Geraldo Alckmin Party PT PSDB Home state Pernambuco / São Paulo São Paulo Running mate José Alencar José Jorge States carried 19 + DF 7 Popular vote 58,295,042 37,543,178 Percentage 60.83% 39.17%
Presidential election results map after the second round of voting: Red denotes states won by Lula, and Blue denotes those won by Alckmin.
President before election Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva PT Elected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva PT

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
PT

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
PT

General elections were held in Brazil on 1 October 2006 to elect all seats in the Chamber of Deputies, one-third of the Federal Senate, and members of the Legislative Assemblies of the 26 states and the Federal District. As no candidate for president received over 50% of the vote, a second round run-off was held on 29 October between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his challenger, Geraldo Alckmin. A second round was also required in 10 states where no candidate for governor received a majority. Lula won the second round with over 60% of the valid votes and secured a new four-year term.

With its image tainted by the mensalão scandal, the Workers' Party saw a decrease of 3.4% in its margin, compared to the previous general election and lost many states in the Southern Region of Brazil that they won last time. For the first time, its share declined when compared to a previous election. The main opposition parties, Brazilian Social Democratic Party and Liberal Front Party, also saw a decrease in its voting. All other major parties, with the exception of centre-right Progressive Party, increased its voting.

The 2006 election was held amid a clear reorganization of the political forces of the country. After three failed attempts, Workers' Party candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was eventually elected President. The financial market feared his government would be a threat to the new-found economic stability. Lula, once considered a member of the radical left wing, implemented unorthodox neoliberal policies on the economic field, resembling the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration, but not succumbing, however, to privatization pressures. On the social field, Lula gained notice for Fome Zero, a successful measure to eradicate extreme poverty.