parlamentarista

Parlamentarista is a term used in Portuguese to denote a person who defends or supports the parliamentary system of government (parlamentarismo). In political discourse, a parlamentarista is typically someone who favors a form of government in which the executive is accountable to the legislature and may be dismissed by it, rather than a system where the head of state and the head of government are elected independently of parliament.

A central feature associated with parlamentarismo is the fusion of the executive and legislative branches. The government or cabinet is usually chosen from the legislature and remains in office only while it retains the confidence of a majority of legislators. The head of government, such as a prime minister, is typically the leader of the cabinet, while a president or monarch may serve as a largely ceremonial head of state. In this framework, parliamentary confidence votes and cabinet responsibility are common mechanisms.

Usage and regional variation vary. In Lusophone countries and in academic or political debate, the term often designates supporters of parliamentary government in contrast to presidentialist or semi-presidential models. In some contexts, however, “parlamentarista” can be used more broadly to refer to someone connected with a parliament, or in certain languages to a parliamentary procedural expert, though the more common term for a member of parliament is “parlamentar.”

Overall, parlamentarista conveys alignment with parlamentarismo as a constitutional arrangement, emphasizing legislative sovereignty, accountability of the executive to the legislature, and a government formed from and dependent on parliamentary support.