The governor of, (), returned from travel to Portugal, where he accompanied the, pressured to make the decision to maintain or reverse the dismissal of former transport secretary Washington Reis (MDB).
Reis was on Thursday (3) by Deputy Rodrigo Bacellar (), President of Alerj (Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro) who had assumed as acting governor during Castro’s trip. Bacellar is a pre-candidate for the state government in 2026.
People close to the government analyze that Claudio Castro can give signs of political weakening and expand the deputy’s powers to remain the dismissal.
On the other hand, if Castro renames Washington Reis, Bacellar promises to break with the government. Part of the deputies of the base is willing to isolate the governor if there is readmission.
According to interlocutors, Castro evaluates to publish the rename of kings in the Official Gazette this week, in motion that would consolidate the split with Bacellar.
The in force is Castro to leave the position of governor until April 2026 to run for Senate, according to the Rule of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), leaving Bacellar as governor during the election.
The Fluminense Executive has not been deputy since May, when Thiago Pampolha was from the TCE (State Court of Auditors), moving made to broaden Bacellar powers.
Ally of the former president (PL) in recent years, Reis chairs the MDB in the state and, although ineligible, does not denounce interest in running for Guanabara Palace, if it reverses ineligibility. He approached the mayor (PSD) and did in recent weeks, which annoyed the base.
PL and União Brasil leaders at Alerj convinced Bacellar at the end of June to exonerate Washington Reis when Castro left on a trip.
The justification of the dismissal is that Kings “lights candle to both sides”. “My side is with the Jair Bolsonaro group. Already, in his case, it was clear that he aligned himself with the mayor of Rio and President Lula,” Bacellar said on Thursday.
In Portugal, Castro did not speak publicly, but contacted the former secretary to say that “would solve the problem,” according to people along with the relationship.
On Friday (4), Bacellar said he would break with the government if he renamed Washington Reis.
Four days earlier, on Monday (30), still as president of Alerj, Bacellar hit the mouth of Washington Reis, Rosenverg Reis (MDB). The plenary had approved the convening of Kings to a CPI and Rosenverg, when defending his brother, said it was Bacellar who commanded the state.
Bacellar replied, “You are doing personal attack. With me, no. Don’t confuse me with Claudio Castro.”
Part of the politicians on the right -right Fluminense understands that Bacellar stretched the rope both by saying that it was not Claudio Castro and exonerating kings without the governor’s endorsement.
Already deputies of the base state that the president of the Assembly made the decision that the governor had avoided, to exonerate a secretary who has been attracted close to Paes.
The greatest disagreement between Reis and Castro occurred in early June, after the then secretary announced live on a newscast that the fare would be reduced. Soon after, he was denied and disallowed by the governor. Castro was at a meeting at Guanabara Palace and learned from TV ad advisers.
Bacellar planned to announce that week that the reduction in the fare would be partly subsidized by Alerj. For opponents, Reis wanted to pass ahead in the episode. The former secretary argues that there was a failure in communication.
Potential candidate for governor, although not publicly admitted, Paes consider Reis as one of the na na plate candidates. Already the PL plans for the Senate the duo Claudio Castro and Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ).
On Friday, as acting governor, Rodrigo Bacellar met with Flávio during an agenda in Armação dos Buzios.
Three times mayor of Duque de Caxias, Reis commands the clan ahead of the municipality for almost a decade. In the 2024 campaign, he took twice to the way to the nephew, Netinho Reis (MDB), elected in the first round.
An agreement with Paes, however, can put in 2026 Washington Reis on the same side of President Lula, supporter of the mayor.
Last week, Reis said he learned of the dismissal for the press, criticized the state deputy and cited actions taken while he was at the secretariat.
