Amazonas Governor Wilson Lima (União) resigned on the night of Saturday, April 4, as per an extra edition of the Official Gazette. The move comes on the final deadline for officials to step down to run for new positions in upcoming elections. He had previously stated he would complete his term.
Wilson Lima announced the resignation in a video on social media, calling it one of the most important decisions of his public life. "I always said I would fulfill my term until the end. And I said that because it was true and what I believed at the time. But governing also means having the courage to make difficult decisions, especially when the scenario changes and the state's interest must come first," he stated.
Vice-Governor Tadeu de Souza (PP) also resigned. As a result, Roberto Cidade (União), president of the Amazonas Legislative Assembly, will assume interim command of the state executive.
Lima's resignation follows a trend: ten other governors have stepped down in recent weeks to pursue new candidacies. While Lima did not specify the targeted position, he is speculated to seek a Senate seat. A March Real Time Big Data poll placed him second in voting intentions, behind Capitão Alberto Neto (PL).
