The state deputy (), (Legislative Assembly of ), defended dialogue with the (Federal Supreme Court) and , to discuss the future of command of the Guanabara Palace.
Ruas stated that he does not intend to judicialize the debate over the Fluminense government’s line of succession, but defended dialogue to seek “institutional normality” in the state.
“We know that there is another issue regarding the position of governor being discussed in the Federal Supreme Court. So, this House will not take any steps if it is not through dialogue with other institutions. What we are looking for here is institutional normality”, stated Ruas in a press conference.
“I am defending that we can, through dialogue between institutions, understand each other. Without the need for a judicial measure, a petition. I think that first we have to present to the other institutions of the Republic that this Legislative Branch now has a legitimately elected president, has its representative before the other bodies of the federation. And from then on we can start a dialogue, understand what is the best way for us to seek institutional normality in our state of Rio de Janeiro.”
At the same time, the deputy stated that interim status is completely opposite to stability.
“We have a scenario of institutional instability in the State of Rio de Janeiro, in which the three powers were in their interim roles. The state government is being exercised by the president of the Court of Justice and, consequently, the Court of Justice is being presided over by the vice-president of that power. And here in the House, we have also been presided over on an interim basis for just over four months. So, the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro took an important step today in search of institutional normality in the state of Rio de Janeiro January”, he declared.
Ruas’ election left the command of the Guanabara Palace officially dependent on the STF’s decision. Minister Cristiano Zanin determined that Judge Ricardo Couto, president of the Court of Justice, would remain as interim governor until the selection of the buffer governor, interfering in the line of succession provided for in the state Constitution.
“The minister of the Federal Supreme Court assessed the factual situation on that date on which he issued the injunction. Now we have a new fact. But I think that the person who should give the correct interpretation to this new fact, to this issue, is the minister of the Federal Supreme Court himself,” said Ruas.
The new president of Alerj also avoided a clash with minister Gilmar Mendes, who during the judgment session on the succession in Rio de Janeiro stated that almost half of the deputies had ties to the game.
“The state of Rio de Janeiro has a very bad record in recent years with governors removed, with the president of the Assembly. But we have to, now, having reestablished the presidency, do institutional relations work that can show other entities in the federation that there are deputies here who were elected by the people and who work hard to be able to meet the population’s demands”, he declared.
Ruas’ only criticism was directed at the parties that left the plenary, opposed to open voting in the election for the command of the House. He criticized the fact that the acronyms had called the Judiciary to prevent the vote.
“What is clear is that these parties, especially the PDT and , want the instability of institutions in the state of Rio de Janeiro.”
The choice of Ruas as president of Alerj is seen by the PL as a way to increase the deputy’s exposure, in his first term, for the dispute for state government both in October and in a possible popular election in the middle of the year to choose the buffer governor in the state.
The election was also a preview of the contest of forces between the PL and the group led by Paes for a possible indirect election to choose the buffer governor. The definition of the name that will lead the state until December still depends on the conclusion of the trial in the STF.
O, with the votes of five ministers still remaining. The minister requested a review of the process, citing the need to publish the ruling in the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) that revoked the former governor (PL), in March
Rio de Janeiro has been without a governor since March 23, when Castro resigned to run for the Senate. His departure from office occurred on the eve of the TSE judgment with the aim of avoiding a direct election for his immediate succession, which could be determined in the event of revocation of the mandate.
Without a vice, as Thiago Pampolha resigned last year to take up a seat at the TCE (State Audit Court), the next in line would be the president of Alerj.
However, the Rio de Janeiro Legislature had its president, Rodrigo Bacellar, out of office since December, during the investigation into the leak of information about the investigation against former deputy TH Joias, linked to Comando Vermelho.
Guilherme Delaroli, vice-president of Alerj, provisionally assumed the presidency of the House, but cannot take over the Guanabara Palace as he is not the holder of the position. For this reason, since Castro’s resignation, the government has been under the responsibility of Couto, president of the TJ-RJ and last in the line of succession provided for in the Rio de Janeiro Constitution.
Couto remains in government now, following an injunction by Zanin, endorsed by the STF plenary. The situation will only be defined when the ministers resume the discussion on whether the buffer governor, who will lead the state until December, will be elected in a direct election, by popular vote, or indirectly, by state deputies.
