For weeks the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), the main radical socialist party in Brazil and one of the biggest in Latin America, has been intensely debating a proposal by the leadership to form a federation with the Workers Party (PT) of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in the run up to October’s general elections. A federation would probably bring the PSOL a larger number of seats at federal and state levels; it would also mean presenting a common set of candidates, with common alliances and a common election programme.
The national leadership met on Saturday and voted by a large majority to reject the proposal. Only Revolução Solidaria, the main leadership current around Guilherme Boulos, voted in favour. Those voting against included not only the currents that have long been critical of the party having closer and closer relations with the PT government – including of Boulos’ own acceptance last October of a job as Lula’s cabinet chief – notably MES and other currents supporting the FI like Ecosocialistas, Centelhas and APS, but also a number of currents that have often supported the leadership’s orientation towards the PT, in particular, Resistencia, Insurgencia and Subverta (the last two of which are also supporters of the FI).
The motion passed means the PSOL will still back Lula as the presidential candidate best placed to defeat the far right, from the first round of the election. But it will maintain autonomy to campaign on its own platform and put up its own candidates where it sees the need.
The PSOL’s motion agreed to retain a much less significant federation agreement reached some years ago with Rede, the party of Environment minister, Marina Silva.
Here is a declaration on the decision by Ecosocialistas, one of the currents in the PSOL that is part of the Brazilian section of the Fourth International.
The majority of the party votes to maintain its autonomy and a commitment to social change.
The PSOL National Directorate met on Saturday, 7 March, and voted by a majority against the proposal to enter into a federation with the PT. The motion against the federation with the PT and in favour of maintaining the existing federation with Rede received 47 votes. Only 15 votes were cast in favour of the new federation. There was one abstention on the grounds of disagreement with both federations.
The approved motion states: “The PSOL has developed a combative political identity that is recognised in society and is capable of engaging with different sectors and representing the fundamental causes of the Brazilian people; it not only plays a role in the immediate situation but also has much to offer the future of the Brazilian left.”
We, as Ecosocialistas, believe that a federation with the PT would mean committing ourselves to projects and alliances that do not correspond to the PSOL’s programme and its strategic task: to be a space for bringing together organisations that seek to build a transformation of society.
We know that the struggle against the far right is urgent and demands unity. Unity that we seek to build in the processes of struggle, with independence, social mobilisation and freedom for the PSOL to present its own proposals and, in elections, its own candidates.
The PSOL was born precisely out of criticism of conciliation with the elites and in defence of a left that maintains its autonomy, programmatic coherence and commitment to social struggles. Entering into a federation with the PT could dilute this identity and transform the party into a mere appendage of different political project.
7 March 2026
Translated by International Viewpoint from Ecossocialistas
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