The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) recently began judging an appeal from the Public Electoral Ministry (MPE) for revoke the mandate of the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro, for abuse of political and economic power in his re-election campaign in 2022.
The electoral prosecutor intends to reverse the decision of the Regional Court Election of Rio de Janeiro (TRE-RJ) which, in May last year, acquitted Castro and others accused in the process that deals with alleged irregular hiring at the Rio de Janeiro State Center for Statistics, Research and Training of Public Servants Foundation (Ceperj) and at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (Uerj).
The process also involves former vice-governor Thiago Pampolha; the former president of Ceperj, Gabriel Rodrigues Lopes, and state deputy Rodrigo da Silva Bacellar (União), former government secretary.
The Public Ministry claims that Castro obtained an electoral advantage in hiring temporary employees, without legal support, and in the decentralization of resources to entities unrelated to Rio’s public administration.
According to the accusation, the decentralization of resources occurred to encourage the hiring of 27,665 people, totaling expenses of R$248 million, an amount 30 times greater than the spending ceiling for the 2022 campaign, which was R$17 million.
The indictment also cited that payments to contractors were made through cash withdrawals, with the aim of attracting voters.
“The method of remuneration carried out through payment in kind at the cashier’s office, without any supervision and control, and, above all, the lack of a work plan for the activities carried out, allow us to conclude that there was a deviation from the purpose in the form of admission of employees”, maintained the MPE.
During the processing of the appeal at the TSE, Cláudio Castro said that he is confident in Justice because the TRE rejected the action due to “total inconsistency and lack of evidence”.
The case is reported to the TSE by minister Isabel Galotti.
