Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) confirmed on Wednesday (25) that the election to complete the Rio de Janeiro governorship will be indirect, held in the state assembly. The ruling followed Cláudio Castro's (PL) resignation on the eve of a judgment declaring him ineligible. Interim Governor Ricardo Couto identified and prompted correction of an error in the TSE's certificate.
Cláudio Castro of the PL party resigned as Rio de Janeiro governor one day before the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) session on Tuesday night (24), where a majority of justices voted to declare him ineligible. The move avoided direct cassation but created a double vacancy at Palácio Guanabara without a vice-governor. On Wednesday (25), the TSE ordered indirect elections in the Rio Legislative Assembly (Alerj), immediately notifying the Regional Electoral Court (TRE-RJ) to take measures. Per the Rio Constitution, resignation in the mandate's second half triggers indirect election; cassation near the end would mean direct under the Electoral Code, but TSE clarified the current indirect path. Interim Governor Ricardo Couto, president of the Rio Court of Justice, sent a notice to Alerj on the vacancy and awaited TSE guidance, anticipating indirect as most likely. He flagged a material error in the TSE's initial certificate referencing direct election despite votes for indirect, and the court corrected it that Wednesday. At Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF), Justice Luiz Fux upheld a preliminary injunction favoring the PSD party of Eduardo Paes, October gubernatorial hopeful. It sets a six-month candidate disentanglement period and secret Alerj vote, overriding a state law signed by Castro mandating 24 hours and open voting. Fux reasoned for equality and safeguards against interference, noting organized crime in Rio. STF virtual plenary voting remains open until March 30. The PL eyed nominating lawmaker Douglas Ruas.
