Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD) stepped down from Rio de Janeiro city hall on March 20, 2026, delivering a speech with pre-campaign tones for state governor and facing an awkward musical improv in front of the TRE-RJ president. Singers Dudu Nobre and Seu Jorge changed samba lyrics to support Paes for governor, prompting Paes to jokingly blame the singer. Early electoral propaganda is illegal before August 16.
On March 20, 2026, the handover ceremony at Rio de Janeiro city hall's Palácio da Cidade marked Eduardo Paes (PSD)'s early resignation, taken over by vice mayor Eduardo Cavaliere (PSD). The event had a pre-campaign atmosphere, with Paes framing his exit as a 'calling' to tackle the state's crisis, quoting Bible passages, samba lyrics from Almir Guineto and Moacyr Luz, and decrying crime infiltration in politics. He highlighted a municipal armed force's creation and the revoked arrest of councilor Salvino Oliveira (PSD), suspected of Comando Vermelho ties. Paes recalled his 2018 loss to Wilson Witzel, labeling him a 'farsante' impeached for corruption, and nodded to allies as 'armado de fé', interior municipalities, and Baixada Fluminense. At the speech's end, Dudu Nobre and Seu Jorge performed 'Moleque Atrevido' by Jorge Aragão, changing the line to 'respeite Eduardo Paes para governador' before TRE-RJ president Claudio de Mello Tavares. Paes laughed, scratched his head, and said: 'The TRE-RJ president saw that I didn't see. I have no responsibility. The crime was Dudu Nobre's, not Dudu Paes'. Dudu replied: 'It was all improv, forgive me', shouting 'Alô TRE!' on exit. Early electoral propaganda with explicit vote requests is illegal before August 16, facing fines. The event featured samba by Marquinho de Oswaldo Cruz, prayers, and blessings from religious leaders like Bishop Abner Ferreira.
