Bahia Electoral Court restores Deputy José Carlos Araújo to the PDT

The Regional Electoral Court of Bahia (TRE-BA) has canceled the affiliation of Deputy José Carlos Araújo with the Christian Democracy (DC) party and ordered the restoration of his ties to the Democratic Labour Party (PDT).

Araújo claimed his affiliation to the DC was performed without his consent during a political dispute between the party's national president, João Caldas, and former House Speaker Arthur Lira. The deputy, who is temporarily serving during the leave of Deputy Léo Prates, withdrew from the DC after learning the party had petitioned the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to challenge a rule regarding minimum age requirements for candidates. This legal action specifically impacts Álvaro Lira, son of Arthur Lira, who turns 21 in March 2027.

The DC's ability to file such an action in the STF was contingent on having a representative in Congress, a requirement met only after Araújo's arrival. In his ruling, Judge Paulo Sérgio Filho stated that “no element was presented that demonstrates any manifestation of will” from the deputy to join the DC, noting that the party failed to provide evidence to the contrary when summoned for clarification.