The Supreme Federal Court (STF) has suspended the ruling that would determine the method of electing the new governor of Rio de Janeiro, following a request for review by Justice Flávio Dino.
The court was deliberating whether the successor to former Governor Cláudio Castro should be chosen through direct or indirect elections, but the decision has been postponed.
The debate was halted after Justice Luiz Fux cast his vote, diverging from the rapporteur Cristiano Zanin by advocating for an indirect election, while Zanin argued for a direct vote.
Flávio Dino suggested that the ruling should only resume after the publication of the Superior Electoral Court’s (TSE) decision related to Cláudio Castro.
With the suspension, Judge Ricardo Couto de Castro will remain as interim head of the state government until the issue is resolved by the STF.
The request for review was submitted by Dino during the session held on April 9, according to court records.
At the core of the discussion, rapporteur Cristiano Zanin, responsible for Complaint 92.644, argued that the vacancy of the governor’s position, resulting from the annulment of Castro’s mandate by the TSE followed by his resignation, necessitates direct elections.
Zanin contended that an indirect choice by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) would not be appropriate.
Conversely, Luiz Fux highlighted practical obstacles to a new election, such as the high costs involved and the proximity to the end of the term, suggesting that interim governance and a potential choice within Alerj would be more feasible.
In a previous session, Fux had already voted to maintain an injunction that suspends parts of the state law regarding indirect elections for governor and vice-governor, easing the disqualification period for candidates.
Zanin agreed with Fux on maintaining the injunction but differed on the format of the vote in Alerj, advocating for an open process to ensure greater transparency.
This divergence among the justices reflects the different perspectives on balancing legal and practical aspects in resolving the political impasse in Rio de Janeiro.
The STF’s decision will have a direct impact on the governance of the state, shaping the political direction of one of the country’s most important federative units. Until the ruling resumes, Ricardo Couto de Castro’s interim leadership remains a temporary measure.
More details on the case can be found on the official STF portal, which tracks the developments of the process.
With information from metropoles.com.
Original published at O Cafezinho.