The president of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj), Douglas Ruas (PL), stated this Saturday that the “dialogue” will resolve the political situation in the state and “guarantee institutional normality”. The deputy also said that he “has no interest in legal battles”. After his victory in the Legislative House, on Friday, he began a movement to try to unlock a possible inauguration as governor, a post temporarily occupied by judge Ricardo Couto, president of the state Court of Justice.
The final decision will be made by the Federal Supreme Court (STF), where a trial paused due to Minister Flávio Dino’s request for a review will define the direction of the Guanabara Palace. Ruas is the name supported by senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), pre-candidate for Planalto, for the right-wing election for governor, in October.
— I was emphatic in stating that the Assembly would not take a step except through a dialogue with the other institutions of the Republic — said Ruas this Saturday. — We have no interest in a legal battle, for the simple fact that we understand that this in no way helps the people of Rio de Janeiro.
Ruas’ speech reinforces his first statement as president of Alerj, on Friday, when he stated that he would “seek dialogue” both with the acting governor and with the Judiciary.
PL interlocutors state that the party’s intention is to file a petition with the Supreme Court next Monday communicating the results of the Alerj election, with the aim of speeding up a resolution.
The president of the PL state directory, Altineu Côrtes, told GLOBO that he believes that “President Douglas Ruas will take the necessary action so that the Constitution is fulfilled”. The new Alerj commander himself adopted a similar speech:
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— It is obvious that the Federal Constitution and the State Constitution replicate the same templates, so that the president of the Legislative Branch is second in the line of succession after the governor.
The STF began to look into the issue after the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) condemned Cláudio Castro (PL) for abuse of power, one day after he resigned. As former deputy Thiago Pampolha became an advisor to the Court of Auditors, the situation of double vacancy was consolidated, reinforced by the arrest and subsequent loss of mandate of the former president of Alerj Rodrigo Bacellar (Union).
The Supreme Court is now debating the rules for the buffer mandate that will last until October, when regular elections will be held, which must have Paes and Ruas as opponents. The trial was interrupted with a score of 4 to 1 due to the indirect election, with the choice of the interim governor being made by Alerj herself.
After Dino requested a review, however, the magistrates decided that Ricardo Couto would remain in charge of the Rio de Janeiro Executive until there is a definitive outcome in the Court, extending the effects of an injunction granted by Minister Cristiano Zanin in an action brought by the PSD of Paes. It is this point that the Ruas group intends to attack, calling for the reestablishment of the line of succession up to the command of Alerj. One of the arguments why this possibility had been suspended was the fact that, since Bacellar’s arrest, the House had been presided over by an interim, Guilherme Delaroli (PL), which would have made his assumption as governor unfeasible.
Boycott and action in the Supreme Court
For Ruas’ intention to come true, there are still other legal obstacles. After Friday’s election, the national PDT announced that it will call the STF to request the annulment of the election and request the convening of a new session for this purpose, this time with a secret vote.
— Alerj today suffers interference from drug traffickers and militias, affecting the functioning of the House. As there is a process that investigates the involvement of deputies with organized crime, the need for a secret vote is clear to establish the selection process in a democratic way, without external interference or threats — said state deputy Vitor Júnior (PDT), who until the eve of the vote was appointed as the candidate of Paes’ group for command of the Assembly.
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Before the election, the party’s state directory had already tried to suspend the election in Rio’s courts, under the same justification. The request, however, was denied, allowing yesterday’s session.
The decision to keep the choice of deputies with an open vote led to a boycott by the group aligned with Eduardo Paes in Alerj. In total, 25 parliamentarians from PSD, MDB, Podemos, PR, PSB, Cidadania, PCdoB, PT and PSOL left the plenary and did not participate in the election. After the victory, the initiative was criticized by Ruas, who praised the only parliamentarian present to formally abstain from the process:
— The population has to know who is working to create instability in the state. I would like to compliment Congressman Jari (Oliveira, from PSB), who is in opposition, but participated and abstained. This is the political debate. All Powers have the right to elect their representatives.
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Ruas was chosen by 17 deputies from his own party, which also included one absentee. União Brasil (8), PP (4), Solidariedade (4) and Republicans (3) followed as the acronyms that gave the most votes to the elected president.
At the end of March, Ruas had already been elected to head Alerj. The choice ended up overturned by the state court on the same day because it was made before the retotaling of votes resulting from Bacellar’s impeachment by the TSE — which was formalized last Tuesday.
