Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) is judging the format for replacing Rio de Janeiro's governor after Cláudio Castro's resignation, with votes split on direct vs. indirect elections. Following the TSE's March confirmation of indirect polls, justices Cristiano Zanin and Alexandre de Moraes proposed unifying with October's general election while keeping interim governor Ricardo Couto. Voting is paused at 1-1, resuming Thursday (April 9).
The STF trial, which began Wednesday (April 8), decides whether Rio de Janeiro's replacement governor election—triggered by Cláudio Castro (PL)'s resignation on the eve of a TSE ineligibility ruling—will be direct or indirect. This follows the TSE's March 25 confirmation of indirect elections by the state assembly (Alerj).
Relator Cristiano Zanin voted for direct elections, calling the resignation a ploy to shift voting to PL-dominated Alerj. Luiz Fux dissented, preferring indirect election due to costs exceeding R$100 million and proximity to October polls.
"Cláudio Castro's resignation evidently aimed to circumvent the TSE judgment," Zanin said. Alexandre de Moraes signaled support for Zanin, referencing a TSE resolution for unification into the ordinary October election.
Zanin suggested unifying the replacement vote with October's, with TJ-RJ president Ricardo Couto as interim governor until then. "We must define Couto's continued role," he noted. PSD-RJ lawyer Gustavo Schmidt endorsed Couto for ensuring electoral fairness.
With Alerj lacking a president after Rodrigo Bacellar's cassation, Couto is next in succession. Voting resumes Thursday.
