The Goiás Regional Electoral Court (TRE-GO) unanimously ruled on Tuesday (8), reverse the decision of the first instance that had declared Governor Ronaldo Caiado (União Brasil). The court also annulled the sanctions applied to the mayor of Goiânia, Sandro Mabel (União Brasil), and his deputy, Colonel Claudia (Avante), who were also prevented from running elections.
Despite removing the most severe penalties, the judges maintained the application of fines for prohibited conduct. Caiado was fined $ 60,000, and Mabel, at $ 40,000. Both may still appeal to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) if the decision is challenged.
The prosecution originated in a December 2024 sentence by Judge Maria Umbelina Zorzetti of the 1st Electoral Zone of Goiânia. The magistrate understood that the governor would have used the structure of the Emerald Palace – headquarters of the state government – to carry out dinners with councilors and political leaders during the electoral process of 2024, which would constitute misuse of the public machine for the benefit of the candidacy supported by him in the capital.
At the time, Zorzetti declared the ineligibility of Caiado, Mabel and Claudia for eight years, as well as the cassation of the elected plate. The decision, however, was not immediately executed, allowing Caiado to continue in office and that the elected were graduated.
On social networks, Caiado said he received the decision “tranquility” and reiterated his confidence in the judiciary. “My trajectory is of absolute respect for the laws of our country and I will always follow this path,” he wrote.
TRE-GO’s decision marks an important turnaround on Goiás’s political scenario and has a direct impact on Caiado’s national projection, which is if former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) remains ineligible.
