On the party's fourth direct election process (Portuguese: processo de eleição direta - PED), 1,3 million members were able to vote.

He was criticized by the press for having mensalão scandal figures, such as José Dirceu, on his coalition.

This will be the first time since the corruption scheme was triggered that such names will return to the National Leadership of the party.

The candidate for Mensagem ao Partido (English: Message to the Party), - a dissident faction from the "Majority Field" that arose after the scandal to ask for the expulsion of those involved -, José Eduardo Cardzo, a federal deputy for the State of São Paulo was the runner-up, having received almost 18% of the vote, a decrease from his 19% score in the last election.

The National Leadership of the Workers' Party is composed of 81 seats to be divided between the factions with the largest number of votes.