The governor of , (), informed allies that he will resign on Monday (23), one day before the date scheduled for the (Superior Electoral Court) on which he can be revoked.
The movement aims to try 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.
The resignation also aims to try to empty the trial, which currently has a score of 2 to 0 for the governor’s impeachment and ineligibility. Castro tries to prolong the discussion about the second punishment, in order to try to make his candidacy for the Senate viable.
Castro’s decision was taken after hours of meetings this Thursday (19) at Palácio Laranjeiras with allies, including the president of the , Antônio Rueda, the vice-president of the Chamber, Altinêu Cortes (PL), and the leader of the PP, the federal deputy dr. Luizinho.
The group outlined scenarios for the indirect election after minister Luiz Fux, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), gave an injunction at the request of the PSD to be carried out after the double vacancy of the governor’s position.
He determined that the six-month period for disqualification of executive positions be respected and secret voting be adopted.
The decision prevents all pre-candidates who work together with deputies to seek the buffer mandate from competing in the indirect election: state secretary Nicola Miccione (Casa Civil), former secretary Douglas Ruas (Cities) and the secretary of Parliamentary Affairs of the Lula government, André Ceciliano (PT).
The injunction will be discussed in the STF plenary, on a date not yet scheduled.
Indirect elections became a reality on the political horizon of Rio de Janeiro after Castro organized the (Tribuna de Contas do Estado) last year.
The objective was to make room for the president of Alerj, (União Brasil), to assume the position from April and compete for succession already holding the post. Plans changed after the deputy was removed from command of the House on charges of leaking information about a police operation against former deputy TH Joias, linked to Comando Vermelho.
Castro’s allies focused this Thursday’s discussion on Alerj’s own succession, as there is an expectation that Bacellar will be convicted in the case. The decision would end the deputy’s removal from command of the House, leading to the election of a new definitive president.
The election could be a test for the viability of a name from Castro’s own base for the buffer mandate. One of the possibilities is to support the current interim president of the Assembly, Guilherme Delaroli (PL).
The opposition led by the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, (PSD), pre-candidate for the government election in October, internally celebrated the disorganization of the scenario outlined by Castro, although it does not have its own consolidated flight plan.
One of the options is to try to come up with a name for the center of Alerj, which can attract support from both this wing and the mayor’s support base. One of the names considered is deputy Chico Machado (Solidarity), former secretary and former government leader under the Castro administration.
Machado supports former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), but is more linked to Bacellar, to whom part of the articulation surrounding the name is also attributed.
Castro planned to remain in office until the end of the month, the deadline for the non-compliance of those who intend to run for office in October.
The plans were changed after the president of the TSE, minister Carmén Lúcia, set March 24th as the deadline for the process to be returned to the plenary by minister Kassio Nunes Marques, who requested a view at the session on the 10th.
The electoral action originated with the call, in June 2022. The case refers to the use of Uerj (University of the State of Rio de Janeiro) and the Ceperj Foundation to pay social project employees in cash and without disclosing their names.
An investigation by Rio discovered cash withdrawals from the “teller’s mouth”. In total, R$248 million were withdrawn from bank branches by tens of thousands of people who were part of the alleged scheme. Hiring was only interrupted in August, after public civil action by the state Public Ministry.
On previous occasions, the governor denied irregularities and said he had interrupted the projects as soon as suspicions were raised.
