Resumen: El 7 de noviembre de 2011 se emite el debate entre los cabezas de lista de los principa-les partidos a La Moncloa, Rajoy y Rubalcaba. 12 millones de espectadores pudieron ver dos estilos dispares a cuyo análisis nos dedicamos en este artículo. A tal fin, estudiaremos herramientas discursi-vas que tienen que ver con la estructuración del texto, y con cómo se articulan textualmente los mun-dos exterior e interior del hablante. Observaremos metáforas conceptuales y falacias de la argumen-tación; y exploraremos cómo la expresión facial complementa, refuerza o diverge de los significados codificados. La comparación entre ambos muestra diferencias respecto a su sinceridad, asertividad y grado de optimismo en su representación del país, que se pueden explicar por su estatus e ideología. Palabras Clave: Debate electoral: España, campaña 2011; metáfora conceptual; falacias de la argumentación; lenguaje no verbal. Abstract: On November 7, 2011, 12 million viewers could watch the debate between Spain's major parties' candidates for La Moncloa, Rajoy and Rubalcaba, and see two rather distinctive styles we aim to analyse here. For such a purpose, we focus on some strategies with much communicative potential concerned with text construction itself, as well as with how the external world is built textually, and how the speakers' inner world is articulated. Thus we scrutinise argument fallacies and conceptual metaphors, and explore how facial expressions may complement, be in accordance with or clash with encoded meanings. The comparison shows differences regarding sincerity, assertiveness and the degree of optimism evidenced in the country's portrayal, which can be explained based on ideology and position in politics.

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SINCE 1974, A PROCESS OF POLITICAL ‘OPENING’ HAS BEEN taking place in Brazil. But it was only after 1978, when the amnesty law was passed and exiles be an to return, that a majority of observers and academic analysts convinced them-selves that that process was real. The Brazilian regime can still be described as military-based and authoritarian, but now the so-called abertura has become meaningful enough to direct our attention to a different set of questions: why did such changes take place, contrary to most predictions, journalistic as well as academic, of the late 1960s and early 1970s? Why have elections pla ed such a decisive role in them, again contrary to most predictions? Are the fruits picked in this example of redemocratization really ripe to be enjoyed? Can the other countries subject to military-authoritarian rule in the Southern Cone equally aspire to them – that is , to orderly but yet significant steps toward an eventual demise of their authoritarian systems?

No quadro de uma reflexão sobre o sistema eleitoral brasileiro, discute-se: 1º) a distorção que existe na Câmara de Deputados face à população dos diferentes estados, penalizando os mais populosos; 2º) o sistema eleitoral misto, o mais adequado, no entender do autor, para que o processo de escolha dos legisladores se torne mais inteligível ao eleitor individual e, portanto, os partidos se conduzam de forma mais transparente e democrática