STF Scrutinizes TSE Ruling as Rio Succession Hinges on Direct or Indirect Vote

Overview

• Ministers began reviewing the TSE’s written decision published Thursday that made ex-governor Cláudio Castro ineligible and deemed his cassation moot after his renunciation, increasing pressure to resume the Supreme Court case on the election format.
• Cristiano Zanin said Friday that court president Ricardo Couto remains interim governor until the judgment ends, while new assembly chief Douglas Ruas seeks to take office and the PSD asked the Court to block his move.
• The case remains paused by a request for more time from Justice Flávio Dino, who can hold it for up to 90 days, with four votes signaled for an indirect assembly vote and one for a direct popular vote still on the record.
• The Court’s Second Panel formed a majority Friday to keep former BRB president Paulo Henrique Costa in preventive detention in the Compliance Zero probe, which alleges R$146 million in bribes tied to fictitious credit portfolios from Banco Master sold to the BRB.
• Nineteen states and the National Confederation of Municipalities submitted a plan to the Court to redivide oil and gas royalties starting in 2026, which reports say could cut about R$21 billion a year from Rio if approved at a May 6 hearing.