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[POLITICS] · Brazil · 12 sources

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Antônio Rueda's candidacy approved by Rio electoral court

The Rio de Janeiro Regional Electoral Court (TRE-RJ) has unanimously approved the candidacy of Antônio Rueda, president of the União Brasil party, for federal deputy. The decision follows a period of legal uncertainty after the court suspended the process to conduct investigations.

The Electoral Public Ministry (MPE) had reversed its initial position to formally request the rejection of Rueda's registration. The MPE alleged that Rueda's campaign benefited from a political-territorial structure linked to militias in the Baixada Fluminense region, specifically involving figures such as Eduardo Araújo and Fabinho Varandão, who had previously had their own candidacies blocked due to paramilitary ties.

However, the TRE-RJ rapporteur, Judge Paulo Cesar Salomão Filho, ruled that court-ordered diligences failed to find evidence that militia leaders used coercion or territorial mobilization to benefit Rueda. The court noted that social media posts by third parties did not constitute sufficient proof of a formal link, financing, or agreement between the candidate and the paramilitary groups. Rueda has denied all allegations of involvement with criminal organizations.

Entities

Antonio Rueda · Belford Roxo · Ministério Público Eleitoral · Ronaldo Tannús · Tribunal Regional Eleitoral do Rio de Janeiro · União Brasil

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