Olímpio Rocha to Appeal PSOL‑Rede State Decision, Seeks Governorship in Paraíba

Olímpio Rocha, a lawyer and pre‑candidate for the PSOL‑Rede alliance, had his bid for the governorship of Paraíba rejected by the state federation, which voted 8‑4 to endorse the incumbent vice‑governor Lucas Ribeiro (PP). Rocha announced he will immediately appeal the decision to the national direction of the PSOL‑Rede federation, arguing that the state resolution “não tem validade jurídica” and can be overturned. He stated, “Nós vamos recorrer à Federação Nacional, onde o PSOL tem maioria. Essa decisão aqui da Paraíba, que não tem validade jurídica, será revertida e teremos candidatura ao Governo do Estado.” No response from the national federation has been recorded, and the dispute remains unresolved as the October election approaches.

The internal conflict pits the state branch, which chose to back the governing coalition, against Rocha’s faction, which seeks an independent left‑of‑centre candidacy. The outcome will determine whether Rocha appears on the ballot for governor of Paraíba.