In an interval of ten days, the political scenario went from profound uncertainty to an institutional crisis that culminated in the choice of an interim governor by the (Supreme Federal Court).
The disintegration of Rio’s political command has as its backdrop the decision of () to resign from the government on the eve of the trial in which he was declared ineligible for abuse of political power in the 2022 elections.
However, unexpected and contradictory court decisions worsened uncertainty about the fate of the Guanabara Palace. On Friday, the minister determined, in an injunction, the suspension of indirect elections and the maintenance of judge Ricardo Couto, president of the Court of Justice, as interim governor until the Court’s final decision on the matter.
See the chronology of the political crisis in Rio de Janeiro and the next steps in the case.
18.mar – Luiz for indirect election for the buffer mandate
The minister, from the STF (Supreme Federal Court), changes by preliminary injunction the rules provided for in state law for indirect elections in the case of double vacancy for the position of governor and vice-president. It determines secret voting, to avoid the influence of organized crime on deputies, and respect for the six-month non-compliance period, provided for in electoral legislation.
The second point affected all pre-candidates who were moving in Alerj already under the expectation of Castro’s resignation, who would leave his position to run for the Senate. With this, new names begin to be speculated.
The action was filed by the PSD, owned by the former mayor of Rio de Janeiro, pre-candidate for state government.
Mar 20 – Cláudio
Castro communicated to his allies his decision to resign on Monday (23), the day before the trial in the (Superior Electoral Court) in which he could be revoked.
The movement aimed to guarantee the holding of an indirect election for the buffer mandate, which runs until the end of this year. Revocation by the TSE could lead to a direct election, reducing the governor’s power of influence over his immediate succession.
March 23 – Castro unsuccessfully tries to request a new review at the TSE and
Despite having a “termination of office” ceremony scheduled at the Guanabara Palace, Castro was still trying to signal with TSE ministers that there would be a new request for a review of the trial. The objective was to postpone his resignation.
Without a positive response, he confirms his departure, declaring that he will leave the position “with his head held high”.
24.mar – ; interim takes over
The TSE declares Cláudio Castro and Rodrigo Bacellar, at the time removed president of Alerj, ineligible due to the call, in June 2022. The decision leaves several gaps that emerge the following day.
The president of the Court of Justice, Ricardo Couto, takes over the state government. THE Sheethe says .
March 25 – Interim governor on election for buffer term
Couto notifies the TSE indicating a contradiction between the votes presented by the ministers in the session on Tuesday (24) and the certificate that made the result of the trial official. While the votes pointed to an indirect election for the buffer mandate, the court certificate determined a popular election.
After the provocation, the TSE issued a new certificate to correct what it called a “material error”, indicating the indirect election.
The court also had to make it clear in Wednesday’s session (25) that Bacellar should lose his mandate immediately, a decision that had not been expressly made the previous day. The determination opened space for the holding of a new election for the Assembly command.
26.mar – Alerj decides on the presidency and
At 9 am, the acting president of Alerj, Guilherme Delaroli (PL), calls for an election for the presidency of the Assembly for the same day, at 2:15 pm. Opposition deputies argue that he should wait for the votes to be retotaled by the TRE (Regional Electoral Court) after the votes given to Bacellar were annulled.
Delaroli maintains the election, won by deputy (PL), pre-candidate for state government.
Hours later, the TJ-RJ annulled the election, declaring it necessary to wait for the new calculation of the distribution of seats in Alerj by the TRE.
March 27 – and Zanin maintains judge as governor until final decision;
During the virtual trial on the rules for indirect elections, the minister raises the discussion about the need for a popular election. He points out that Castro’s resignation should be disregarded, because it was carried out with the aim of changing the result of the TSE trial.
In addition to the popular election, Moraes defends that Ricardo Couto remains as interim governor until the election of the buffer governor. In this way, the future president of Alerj to be elected would not take over the Guanabara Palace, as determined by the state Constitution.
On Friday night, minister Cristiano Zanin, who had followed Moraes’ vote, asked for prominence and interrupted the trial. In an injunction in the complaint opened by the PSD-RJ, from Paes, the magistrate suspends the holding of indirect elections and determines that Couto will remain until the Supreme Court concludes on the matter.
The virtual session, which would end on Monday (30), will be replaced by analysis in the physical plenary, with no date yet set.
At the end of the afternoon, Bacellar was arrested again by the Federal Police on Moraes’ orders. The arrest was ordered by the minister as a consequence of the TSE conviction.
Next steps
March 31 – TRE retotalizes votes
TRE redoes the calculations for the distribution of seats in the Assembly after Bacellar’s mandate is revoked. The former president of Alerj was elected by the PL with 97 thousand votes. Their annulment could affect the party’s number of seats in the House.
Supreme discusses direct election
The president of the STF, Edson Fachin, needs to set a date for analyzing the judgment on the indirect election rules and the possibility of a popular election in the in-person plenary.
In the virtual session, there were four ministers in favor of direct elections, when Zanin withdrew his vote and asked for prominence. The Court had already reached unanimity through a secret vote in Alerj to choose the buffer governor. There was also a large majority (9 to 1) to reduce the deadline for disqualification to one day after the double vacancy, giving back to the strongest pre-candidates the possibility of contesting.
Election of the new president of Alerj
After the votes are totaled, an election is scheduled to be held for the presidency of Alerj. It doesn’t have a date for it to happen.
Buffer governor election
By law, the deadline for holding indirect elections for the buffer mandate expires on April 22, 30 days after Castro’s resignation. However, if a direct election is determined, it may only take place in May.
