Rio de Janeiro succession: STF postpones interim governor election ruling

The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has removed the judgment regarding the method for choosing Rio de Janeiro’s interim governor from its agenda. The case seeks to determine whether the successor for the ‘mandato-tampão’ (interim term) should be elected directly by the population or indirectly by the State Legislative Assembly (Alerj).

The legal dispute follows the ineligibility of former governor Claudio Castro, who was sanctioned by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) for abuse of political and economic power. Castro resigned shortly before the TSE ruling, a move contested by the PSD party, which advocates for direct elections.

The state currently faces a succession crisis as the line of succession is depleted: former Vice-Governor Thiago Pampolha left the post to join the State Court of Accounts, and Rodrigo Bacellar was also removed following the TSE decision. Consequently, Ricardo Couto de Castro, President of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice, is currently serving as interim governor.

While the case was scheduled to resume, the STF prioritized a discussion regarding the Maria da Penha Law. There are concerns that further requests for more time to review the case could delay a decision until after the upcoming October general elections.