Democratizando a Integração: Eleições Diretas para os Parlamentos Europeu e do Mercosul

Abstract

The present study investigates comparatively two models of regional integration, Mercosur and European Union, and their regional parliaments, the Parliament of Mercosur (Parlasur) and the European Parliament, focusing on the role of the inclusion of direct election within the regional legal system. The working hypothesis is that the insertion of direct elections in integration parliaments generates new dynamics to the role, actuation and configurations of these regional parliamentary institutions in their integration processes. Regarding the non-completion of direct elections in Mercosur, the comparison between parliaments will emphasize the period before the European and Mercosur's elections. Based on comparative model and hypothesis test, it is discussed if the structures of these two integration projects produce limits to the development of supranational democratic institutions.