Parnaíba City Council leadership dispute reaches Supreme Court

The Second Chamber of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has denied a motion to suspend the election of the Parnaíba City Council's Board of Directors for the 2027-2028 biennium. The decision maintains the validity of the August 6 election that selected councilman Ronaldo Prado to preside over the municipal legislature.

The legal challenge was brought by councilman João Batista dos Santos Filho, known as Batista do Catanduvas. He argued that the election was invalid because the council members were summoned only one day before the vote, which he claims violates internal regulations requiring 48 hours' notice for extraordinary sessions.

While the STF majority upheld the election, the defense for Batista Filho continues to contest the interpretation of the ruling. They argue that the court's decision regarding the procedural path does not necessarily address the merits of the controversy regarding the validity of the early election. Meanwhile, supporters of Ronaldo Prado maintain that the early election is permitted under the chamber's internal rules. The matter now returns to the local justice system in Parnaíba for further evaluation.