This paper covers the scope and meanings of the public sector being the occupational origin of candidates and elected candidates in the last elections, in Brazil. The main hypothesis declares that the public sector presents strong prominence in candidate recruitment, particularly in the case of elected candidates. This has deep implications concerning electoral processes and the legitimation of candidacies and the occupation of public offices. The candidates and the elected candidates for the elections in 2008 and 2010 have been confronted with the population group in terms of occupational category and sector of origin. Subsequently the candidates are confronted among themselves in terms of occupational and sector origin and other indicators, such as patrimony amount, party affiliation and electoral results.
Candidacies and Occupational Origins; Candidacies and Sector Origins; Social and Political Legitimation; Political Elite Legitimation; Occupation of Public Offices and Electoral Candidacies