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In some Brazilian states - especially in the North and Northeast regions - politics are still dominated by a particular group, commonly a wealthy, long-established family.

Brazilian Oligarchs often trace the origins of their power to the colonial, and although they have gradually lost political power since de re-democratization- specially after the 2006 elections, which represented a great defeat for some of the strongest groups, such as the Sarney family, from the State of Maranhão, and the Magalhães family, from the State of Bahia, both which were unable to elect their candidates in their respective states.

Although oligarchs are now associated with Northeastern states and politicians, during the Old Republic times the politics were dominated by the wealthy coffee oligarchs from the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The 1929 crisis, the Estado Novo and the urbanization and industrialization of the southeast eventually brought and end for their long-standing legacy. In the still rural and poverty-stricken Northeast, however, they still concentrate richness and power.

The Oligarch families are frequently associated with corruption, control of the local governments, support for the military dictatorship in the past, parallel power, and ownership of the local media and lands.

Contents 1 Current Important Oligarch Families 2 Past Oligarch families 3 Notable Oligarchy members 4 See also

Collor de Mello family, Alagoas State

Sarney family, Maranhão State

Magalhães family, Bahia State

Fernando Collor de Mello, former Brazilian president, elected senator for Alagoas in 2006.

José Sarney, former Brazilian president, senator for Maranhão.

Roseana Sarney, former governor of Maranhão, daughter of José Sarney.

Antônio Carlos Magalhães, former senator of Bahia.

Coronelismo