The Rio de Janeiro directory of the Workers’ Party (PT) confirmed the composition of the ticket for the October elections and declared support for Eduardo Paes (PSD-RJ) in the race for the Guanabara Palace. Unanimously, the party approved the former mayor of Rio as the main platform in the state for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s (PT) candidacy for re-election.
During the meeting, the Rio PT debated the model for choosing the head of the state Executive after the resignation of former governor Cláudio Castro (PL-RJ), last month, and the revocation of his mandate and that of the then removed president of the Legislative Assembly (Alerj) Rodrigo Bacellar (União Brasil-RJ).
Unanimously, the party defined that direct elections are “the most appropriate alternative” for the buffer mandate, until the choice of a new governor, as it “ensures popular participation and full respect for democratic principles”.
“Only the people can define the best course for the State of Rio de Janeiro”, stated the Rio PT, in a note published on social media.
This Friday, after a first election was annulled in court, Alerj elected deputy Douglas Ruas (PL-RJ) — who should be Paes’ main opponent in the race for government — as the new president of the Legislative House.
After his victory, a movement began to try to unlock his eventual inauguration as governor, a post temporarily occupied by judge Ricardo Couto, president of the state Court of Justice.
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The political group of the former mayor of Rio is trying to prevent his opponent, supported by senator and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), from taking control of Rio’s public machinery and is defending direct elections for the buffer mandate.
The final decision on the voting model will be made by the Federal Supreme Court (STF), whose judgment has been paused following a request from Minister Flávio Dino.
In a meeting this Saturday, also unanimously, the PTRJ announced federal deputy Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ) as the holder of the Senate ticket, with Felipe Pires and Kleber Lucas as first and second substitutes, respectively.
Workers’ Party
In February, as Globo showed, the PT selected Benedita da Silva to record a video in defense of the “family”, in an initiative to try to overcome the criticism received by Lula on the occasion of the Acadêmicos de Niterói parade in his honor during the Rio carnival.
Parties and parliamentarians, mainly those linked to the evangelical group, began to explore on social media images of one of the last wings of the group, the “Neoconservatives in preserves”, which brought relatives inside cans, some with ornaments with religious references.
In the video, Benedita described herself as a “woman of faith” and stated that she was proud to be “an evangelical for over 60 years”. The deputy criticized the right for, according to her, planting “fear, division and lies” and cited federal government initiatives, such as income tax exemption for those earning up to R$5,000 and income distribution programs and incentives for public health and education.
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“With the definition of the Senate ticket, positioning on the political scenario in Rio and important steps for party communication, we remain firm, with unity and direction, building the path to continue changing Brazil”, adds the PTRJ note.
