Brazil: Information on the Party of National Mobilization (Partido da Mobilização Nacional, PMN), including political platform and objectives; information on membership procedures; information on the treatment of PMN members by authorities (2014-October 2016)
Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
Publication Date | 28 October 2016 |
Citation / Document Symbol | BRA105668.E |
Related Document(s) | Brésil : information sur le Parti de la mobilisation nationale (Partido da Mobilização Nacional - PMN), y compris le programme et les objectifs politiques; information sur les procédures d'adhésion; information sur le traitement réservé aux membres du PMN par les autorités (2014-octobre 2016) |
Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Brazil: Information on the Party of National Mobilization (Partido da Mobilização Nacional, PMN), including political platform and objectives; information on membership procedures; information on the treatment of PMN members by authorities (2014-October 2016), 28 October 2016, BRA105668.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/589440b64.html [accessed 26 May 2023] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
1. Overview
According to a 1999 Working Paper by Scott Mainwaring et al. and published by the Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame, the Party of National Mobilization (Partido da Mobilização Nacional, PMN) was created in 1985 (Mainwaring et al. Mar. 1999, [18]). Europa World Online indicates that the PMN was founded in 1984 (n.d.). Without providing further detail, a report on party configuration in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies from 1998 to 2010 authored by Ana Lúcia Henrique of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, states that the PMN was "registered" in October 1990 (Henrique 29 May 2009, 28).
According to Europa World Online, the President of the PMN is Telma Ribeiro dos Santos and the Secretary General is Lucas Albano Ribeiro dos Santos (n.d.). Further information about the PMN's leaders could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota who specializes in politics in Brazil stated that the "PMN has no clear ideology" and it has "allied with the left and the right" (Professor 17 Oct. 2016). Mainwaring et al. describe the PMN as a "Center-Right" party (Mar. 1999, [18]). A doctoral dissertation on partisan politics in Brazil, submitted in 2009 to the School of Law & Government at Dublin City University, describes the PMN as a "centrist party" (Doyle Jan. 2009, 90). In contrast, a 2015 doctoral dissertation submitted by Cássio de Silva Muniz to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, titled Ideology Versus Clientelism: Modernization and Electoral Competition in Brazil, describes the PMN as "small, programmatic[1] [vs. clientelistic], and left" (Muniz Aug. 2015, 101).
According to Muniz, the PMN has participated in the following coalitions:
- In 2006, it was a member of a coalition of "parties on the right, center, and left of the political spectrum" alongside the Brazilian Socialist Party (Partido Socialista Brasileiro, PSB), the Labour Party of Brazil (Partido Trabalhista do Brasil, PT do B), the Communist Party of Brazil (Partido Comunista do Brasil, PC do B), the Humanist Party of Solidarity (Partido Humanista da Solidariedade, PHS), the Socialist People's Party (Partido Popular Socialista, PPS), the Liberal Party (Partido Liberal, PL), the Brazilian Labour Party (Partido Trabalhista Brasileiro, PTB), and the Workers' Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT) (ibid., 119)
- In 2010, it was part of a coalition of parties "from the center and [the] right," formed by Rosalba Ciarlini Rosado, from the Democrats (Democratas, DEM), which included, in addition to the PMN, the National Labour Party (Partido Trabalhista Nacional, PTN), the Social Liberal Party (Partido Social Liberal, PSL), the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira, PSDB), and the Christian Social Party (Partido Social Cristão, PSC) (ibid. 120)
- In 2010, Geddel Vieira Lima, from the Brazilian Democratic Party (Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro, PMDB), "ran for governor on an extensive coalition formed mostly by small rightist parties," including: the PMN, the PMDB, the PTN, the Christian Labour Party (Partido Trabalhista Cristão, PTC), PTB, the PT do B, the Christian Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata Cristão, PSDC), the PSC, the Brazilian Labour Renewal Party (Partido Renovador Trabalhista Brasileiro, PRTB), the Progressive Republican Party (Partido Republicano Progressista, PRP), the Party of the Republic (Partido Da República, PR), and the PPS (ibid., 124).
Further information on the ideology of the PMN, including political platform(s), could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
2. Membership Procedures
According to a translation of the membership section of the PMN website, the applicant must complete the online form and include their name, voter's card, email, telephone number, and the state and municipality of residence (PMN n.d.). After submitting the online application, a municipal representative of the PMN will contact the applicant to have them sign the membership card (ibid.). In a case where there is no PMN representation in the applicant's city, someone from the PMN state office will contact the applicant to sign the card (ibid.). According to the site, the applicant will not be considered "affiliated" until they sign the membership card (ibid.).
The Professor stated that citizens who are registering to become a member of any political party in Brazil must "fill out a form," after which the membership is "officially registered [with] both the national party office and with the [N]ational [E]lectoral [C]ourt, the Tribunal Superior Eleitoral [TSE]" (Professor 17 Oct. 2016). The same source further stated that, "in theory," party memberships can be checked on the website of the TSE, however, "the record-keeping is often spotty" and as such, "not having a record there is probably not evidence of not being a member, of any party" (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to a 2015 report produced by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), a non-profit and nonpartisan NGO that supports democracies and democratic institutions around the world, including work to "establish and strengthen political and civic organisations" (NDI n.d.), the TSE has party member data, including
date of registration, voter ID number and geographic location by state, city, electoral zone and electoral section. For former party members, it includes date of and reason for cancellation, as well as the date of renewal/reinstatement for those who have rejoined parties. (ibid. 2015, 89)
Further information on the availability or appearance of membership documents or cards could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
3. Treatment by Authorities
Information on the treatment of PMN members by authorities, including incidents of arrest or violence, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
4. Involvement in Elections and Federal Government 2014-2016
Media sources report that Aécio Neves and Dilma Rousseff were the presidential candidates in the October 2014 runoff vote (Vice News 6 Oct. 2014; BBC 26 Oct. 2014; The Guardian 21 Oct. 2014). According to Trade Bridge Consultants, which provides advisory services to "politicians and the business community at [the] local, national and international level" (Trade Bridge Consultants n.d.a), during the 2014 presidential elections, the PMN was part of the coalition "Change, Brazil" that supported presidential candidate Aécio Neves of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) (ibid. n.d.). The Professor similarly stated that during the "last election [2014], the PMN allied with the losing candidate's party, but that party is now part of the government (in principle) after the impeachment of Dilma [Rousseff]" (Professor 17 Oct. 2016). Reuters reported in April 2016 that the PSDB, Brazil's "largest opposition party," would "support an [interim] government led by Vice-president Michel Temer from the aisles of Congress…but the party is split over whether to join his cabinet" (25 Apr. 2016). On 31 August 2016, Al Jazeera reported that Temer was sworn in as Brazil's new president after Rousseff was removed from office. According to the Professor, the PMN "elected no deputies to the National Chamber" (Professor 17 Oct. 2016). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Note
[1] According to a 2011 report by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an "intergovernmental organization" that assists in "democratic reform" (International IDEA n.d.), "a true programmatic party would not mobilize support using patron–client linkages (the strategy of clientelistic parties), nor make appeals and advocate policies that are explicitly designed to advance the interests of just one group (the behaviour of an ethnic party)" (ibid. Dec. 2011, 10).
References
Al Jazeera. 31 August 2016. "Brazil: Michel Temer Sworn in as New President." [Accessed 26 Oct. 2016]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 26 October 2014. "Brazil Election: Rousseff and Neves in Tight Contest." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]
Doyle, David. January 2009. "Partisan Politics in the Southern Cone: Is there Anything Left for the Left? Political Institutions, Privatisation, and Policy Outcome." Doctoral dissertation, School of Law & Government, Dublin City University. [Accessed 17 Oct. 2016]
Europa World Online.N.d. "Partido da Mobilização Nacional (PMN)." London: Routledge.
The Guardian. 21 October 2014. Jonathan Watts. "Rebel v Patrician: Rousseff and Neves Face Off in Brazil's Presidential Duel." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]
Henrique, Ana Lúcia. 29 May 2009. Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. Brazilian Political Reform: Sheep's Clothing for Leopard's Propositions? [Accessed 17 Oct. 2016]
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). December 2011. Programmatic Parties. [Accessed 26 Oct. 2016]
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA). N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]
Mainwaring, Scott, Rachel Meneguello, and Timothy Power. March 1999. The Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies. University of Notre Dame. Conservative Parties, Democracy, and Economic Reform in Contemporary Brazil. Working Paper No. 264. [Accessed 15 Oct. 2016]
Muniz, Cássio da Silva. August 2015. "Ideology Versus Clientelsim: Modernization and Electoral Competition in Brazil." Doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. [Accessed 15 Oct. 2016]
National Democratic Institute (NDI). 2015. Unleashing the Potential of Election Data. [Accessed 17 Oct. 2016]
National Democratic Institute (NDI). N.d. "Who We Are." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]
Partido da Mobilização Nacional (PMN). N.d. "Filie-se!" [Accessed 17 Oct. 2016]
Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Minnesota. 17 October 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
Reuters. 25 April 2016. Anthony Boadle. "Brazil's Main Opposition Party Split on Joining a Future Temer Government." [Accessed 26 Oct. 2016]
Trade Bridge Consultants. N.d.a. "About Us." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]
Trade Bridge Consultants. N.d.b. "Brazil: Brazilians Go To the Polls." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]
Vice News. 6 October 2014. Lucy Jordan. "Brazil's Presidential Run-Off Pits Dilma Rousseff Against Centrist Aecio Neves." [Accessed 21 Oct. 2016]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Associate Professor, School of International Service, American University; Brazilian Studies Programme, University of Oxford; Partido da Mobilização Nacional.
Internet sources, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Factiva; Human Rights Watch; Latin American Monitor; LatinNews; The North American Congress on Latin America; Political Handbook of the World; Rio Times; Transparency International; UN – Refworld; US – Department of State.