Overview
- On Nov. 4 leaders of the Centrão presented a proposed constitutional amendment to end open‑list proportional elections for deputies and replace them with a mixed‑member model that would begin a transition in 2030 and take full effect in 2034.
- Under the plan half of seats would be elected in single‑member districts and half assigned from closed party lists, with each voter casting two votes: one for a district candidate and one for a party list.
- The initiative is being driven as a response to the PL’s post‑election gains and the success of high‑vote “influencer” candidates that pulled colleagues into the Chamber.
- Critics warn the change could weaken minority representation, invite partisan gerrymandering when district lines are drawn, and shift power over which list candidates win to party leaders who set closed lists.
- The proposal draws on Senate bills from 2017 as templates but remains in draft form, and it carries political irony because many current backers, including Motta, voted against a similar measure in 2015.