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6.4. Influence as a function of institutional freedom and legitimating powerAs noted by Almeida, in his analysis of the political and institutional role played byBrazilian political parties in the formulation of foreign policy, political parties –ruling or otherwise – have had minimal to marginal influence on the making offoreign policy in the Brazilian system. This is not a Brazilian curiosity, but aphenomenon that occurs across a wide spectrum of state types and politicalregimes. Ronald Schneider first noted of Brazil that, “Political parties are notsignificant factors in foreign policy-making”. 537 The main contact that politicalparties had with foreign policy issues occurred in the institutional context ofCongress, where members of the legislature could veto any international accordsentered into, or actions conducted, by the state. 538As the ruling party, however, PT has had the opportunity to shape foreign policy ina more direct manner, an opportunity that it has seized. This has been the result ofthe fluid international environment that the party entered, as well as the changerepresented by Lula in the form of his personality and his political heritage. UnderLula, it was noted, for the first time in decades, if not ever, “foreign policy wasconceived and conducted under the overriding influence of non-professionaldiplomats”, “with PT’s ‘foreign policy’ as the dominant element in Brazilian foreignpolicy since the beginning of the da Silva government…”. 539Other observers are at pains to point out, meanwhile, that national policy can neverbe held hostage to party dictates. This holds true on certain questions. The Brazilianstate has had to tread cautiously around Hugo Chavez, for example, while PT as apolitical party - prior to its migration to the political centre - once held ideals notdissimilar to Chavez’s. However, PT has continued its own brand of diplomacy bystrengthening relations with Leftist governments in South America, in countriesincluding Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia. The party has also worked to strengthenrelations with other parties and movements of the left in South America, through itsestablishment of the Foro do São Paolo in 1990. As claimed in PT’s most recent537 Schneider, Ronald, (1976: 137), cited in Almeida, 1993. A Política da PolíticaExterna: Os Partidos Politicos Nas Relacoes Internacionais do Brasil, 1930-1990. ASeminar at the Ministry of External Relations, Brasilia.538 Almeida, “A Política da Política Externa”, 57.539 Almeida. “Brazil and Non-intervention”, 162.215