The Real or Fictional Importance of the Vice President

The importance of Brazil's vice president has seen a dramatic ebb and flow throughout the nation's history. At times, the office was considered so inconsequential that proposals arose to abolish it entirely. This sentiment was amplified when former Vice President Michel Temer sent a letter to President Dilma Rousseff in 2016, expressing his feeling of being a mere decorative figure.

However, significant events have repeatedly underscored the vice president's crucial role. The impeachments of Fernando Collor and Dilma Rousseff, along with the death of Tancredo Neves shortly after his election, revitalized discussions about the constitutional necessity of a vice president as a successor. These instances highlighted the potential for instability and the need for a clear line of succession.

In the early 2000s, the selection of a vice presidential candidate was primarily a strategy for building political coalitions. Examples include the partnership between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and businessman José Alencar, and earlier alliances involving the PSDB and PFL parties. While these pairings aimed to broaden electoral appeal, their direct impact on election outcomes in subsequent races, such as those involving José Serra, Aécio Neves, and Geraldo Alckmin, proved less decisive than anticipated.

Interestingly, the choice of vice president has evolved into something of an electoral "fetish." Some campaigns view the selection as a potential silver bullet for victory, while others see difficulties in choosing a running mate as a harbinger of defeat. Yet, the article suggests that this perception may be outdated in the current era of instant communication, questioning whether the traditional emphasis on the vice presidential pick warrants re-evaluation.