This article analyses the political arena in Brazil during the second year of Dilma Rousseff’s administration. The objectives of this article are fourfold: 1) to analize the relation between the executive and legislative powers, focusing on the changes in the performance of the government’s constituency from 2011 to 2012; 2) to discuss the results of the municipal elections and their impact on parties and the party system; 3) to evaluate the impact of the trial known as “mensalão” on the political arena: 4) to foresee possible developments in light of the presidential elections of 2014.