The purpose of this study is to survey Raymundo Faoro's articles - published weekly in the magazine Senhor during the year of 1984 - in order to map out the processes of political articulation concerning the election of General João Batista Figueiredo's (1979-1985) successor in Brazilian Presidency. Controls, hindrances, disputes, practices of political continuity acquired at that moment a more visible dimension as the regime agonized. Such scenario showed clearly not only the moves of the agents that obstinately searched for the maintenance of their positions of power and control, but also of those willing to redefine some political procedures. However, their involvement in a complex web of political arrangements, agreements and approximations, widened the difficulties in transcending the notion of democratization of those who conducted the opening process.
elections; transition; political continuity