Maranhão judges issue conflicting rulings on Turilândia mayor's reinstatement

The Maranhão State Court (TJ-MA) is facing conflicting judicial decisions regarding the reinstatement of Paulo Curió (José Paulo Dantas Silva Neto) as the mayor of Turilândia. The controversy follows a preliminary injunction by Supreme Federal Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes, which suspended the precautionary removal of the mayor that had been in place for over nine months.

Two different appellate judges issued opposing rulings on Friday. Desembargador Gervásio Protásio ruled that Moraes’ decision only addressed the criminal removal and did not invalidate the state-mandated intervention in the municipality. Consequently, he maintained the state interventor, Thiago Josino Carrilho de Arruda Macedo, in control of the administration.

However, less than an hour later, Desembargadora Maria da Graça Peres Soares Amorim ordered the immediate reintegration of Paulo Curió to his post, citing the STF injunction. Her ruling lifted restrictions preventing him from accessing municipal offices and systems, though electronic monitoring and nighttime curfews remain in effect. Meanwhile, the state government published a decree suspending previous intervention decrees, citing the Supreme Court's decision.