Impactos da cláusula de barreira no Brasil: aprimoramento da democracia ou crise representativa?

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impacts of the electoral threshold in Brazil, established by Constitutional Amendment No. 97/2017, questioning whether this instrument contributes to the enhancement of democracy or constitutes a crisis of representation. The central issue involves the effects of the threshold on small political parties and its influence on political diversity and governability. The main objective of the research is to investigate whether the performance clause fulfills its role in rationalizing the Brazilian party-political system or whether it weakens representative plurality. The methodology combines both quantitative approaches, including a bibliographic and documentary review and the analysis of statistical data from the 2014, 2018, and 2022 elections, obtained from the Superior Electoral Court. The analysis showed that the clause led to a significant reduction in the number of parties represented in the 1Graduando em Direito pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás. 5 Chamber of Deputies and in access to public party funding, favoring larger parties and hindering the survival of smaller ones. It is concluded that, although the measure has promoted a certain degree of political stability, it has also produced negative consequences for representativeness and plurality in the national political landscape.