'Founded in February, 1980, the PT has since its beginnings included three ideological currents: the left organizations, the labor-union movement and pastoral agents of the church. It was formed as a class party of the bases and the masses, intending to develop as a leftist confederation unconnected to orthodox traditions. It is the main party of the left in the country, with the greatest number of congressmen, mayors, and governors elected from the left' (Fernandes, Bernardo Mançano e Stedile, João Pedro. Brava gente: a trajetória do MST e a luta pela terra no Brasil. São Paulo: Editora Fundação Perseu Abramo, 1999, p. 36, n.5). |