The reelection campaign of the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro (PL), should nominate a new candidate for vice governor. In a unanimous decision, his deputy, Washington Reis (MDB), had his name barred by the Regional Electoral Court (TRE). The replacement must be appointed within ten days, but appeals to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) are still available.
In the same session, TRE-RJ granted Cláudio Castro’s (PL) candidacy registration request, who seeks to be reelected as governor. He has held the position since 2020, when he took over amid the impeachment process of Wilson Witzel, of which he was lieutenant governor.
Washington Reis was mayor of Duque de Caxias (RJ) for two periods: between 2005 and 2009 and between 2017 and 2022. He has also served three terms as a state deputy and two as a federal deputy. In 2016, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) condemned him for the practice of environmental crime and irregular subdivision when he was mayor of Duque de Caxias.
Last week, other alleged irregularities in his management in the municipality motivated a Federal Police operation.
The candidate’s defense maintained that he would be eligible, among other reasons, because he could still present infringing embargoes to the STF. However, the rapporteur of the case, judge Luiz Paulo da Silva Araújo Filho, did not agree with the argument. He rejected the thesis of the suspensive effect of eventual infringing embargoes.
Based on the Clean Record Law, the rapporteur considered that the former mayor is ineligible in view of the conviction handed down by a collegiate judicial body. His vote was accompanied by six other judges. In a note, Washington Reis said he trusts justice and announced that he will appeal to the TSE.
The conviction in the STF had already been analyzed by the TRE-RJ two years ago. In the 2020 municipal elections, Washington Reis also had his candidacy contested. As he appealed to the TSE, he ran sub judice and was re-elected mayor of Duque de Caxias, later obtaining a decision that guaranteed his inauguration.
