The judge, interim governor of , dismissed this Tuesday (31) two allies of the former governor () and appointed a former member of the management (PSD) in the city hall of the capital of Rio de Janeiro.
One of those dismissed is state deputy Jair Bittencourt (PL), who had been appointed Government Secretary by Castro on the 23rd, the date on which the former governor resigned. The now former secretary had been acting in favor of the PL in the coordination of Alerj (in Rio de Janeiro).
On his social networks, he stated that he asked for his dismissal “out of respect for the acting governor Ricardo Couto”. “When I was invited to take over as secretary, we thought that this entire process that is happening would take place in a week, maybe in ten days. And today we don’t have a date for this to end.”
Civil police officer Fernando Hakme also lost his position as advisor to the Civil House. He was one of the biggest influences on the former governor for the public security sector.
The only nomination signed by Couto was that of delegate Roberto Lisandro Leão, from the Civil Police. Since last year he had been occupying positions in the Paes administration, including the General Inspectorate of the Municipal Force, the former mayor’s main focus in the area of security.
Leão took over the Institutional Security Office in place of fellow delegate Edu Guimarães de Souza.
The dismissals of Bittencourt and Souza, as well as the appointment of Leão, were the first acts signed by the interim governor. He had been avoiding making changes to the government structure, defending acting as a transitional management.
The scenario began to change when minister Cristiano Zanin, of the (Supreme Federal Court), ordered the Guanabara Palace until new elections were held. The Supreme Court still defines whether the buffer governor, who will command the state until the end of 2026, will be chosen by Alerj or by popular vote.
Castro’s allies see the decision as something about Rio de Janeiro. The determination subverts the line of succession provided for in the state Constitution, which will be partially restored in the coming days, when the Assembly must choose its new president.
Under the legislation, the new head of the Rio de Janeiro Legislature would automatically take over the government until a buffer governor is chosen.
In the afternoon, in a speech at Alerj, Bittencourt, dismissed from the Government Secretariat, said he defended that Couto’s time in government should be as short as possible.
“He will need a base in the Assembly. He will experience moments that he does not experience in the Court of Justice. My opinion is that this period should be brief. It is very dangerous to have a member of the Judiciary governing for a long time”, said the deputy.
The election of the new president of Alerj has not yet been scheduled. This Tuesday, the TRE (Regional Electoral Court) carried out the retotalization of votes determined due to the impeachment of , former president of the Assembly, by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court). There was no change in the distribution of seats in the Legislature.
Deputy Luiz Paulo (PSD) stated that it was agreed with deputy Guilherme Delaroli (PL), acting president of Alerj, that all TRE deadlines and official notification about the retotalization will be awaited.
In this way, the election for the command of the House will take place after the 8th, when the STF will decide on Couto’s permanence and how the buffer governor will be chosen. According to the TRE, the retotalization will only be approved on the 14th, when Alerj will be officially notified of the result.
In a note, Alerj declared that “it awaits the completion of the rite for retotaling votes by the TRE to swear in the deputy indicated as holder of the vacancy, in compliance with the court decision.”
“The decision will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office of the House, to issue an opinion on other judicial and regulatory procedures, in defense of the prerogatives of the Legislative Branch. When the TRE’s decision is confirmed, there will be no change in the composition of the House”, says the note.
