Regional Electoral Court rejects appeals and upholds third impeachment of RR governor | Roraima

The Regional Electoral Court of Roraima (TRE-RR) rejected this Tuesday (24) the appeals of the governor of Roraima, Antonio Denarium (PP), against the decision that revoked his mandate for the third time for abuse of political and economic power . With the rejection, he remains revoked and as long as there is no higher decision, such as from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), he continues in office.

The resources were unanimously rejected during a session at TRE-RR. Called declaration embargoes, the appeals were presented by Denarium, vice-governor Edilson Damião – who also had his mandate revoked in the action – and the Republican party, of which Edilson is a member.

The governor’s defense argued that there were omissions in the revocation decision, such as the absence of dissenting votes in the case’s ruling and the distinction between the two types of abuse. The rapporteur of the process, judge Tânia Vasconcelos, welcomed the inclusion of the transcript of the votes.

Still during the session, the rapporteur acknowledged that there was political and economic abuse by the governor during the 2022 elections, the year in which Denarium was re-elected, through the government structure. The Public Ministry of Roraima (MPRR) gave an opinion for the Regional Electoral Court to deny the appeal and maintain the governor’s impeachment.

In a statement, the governor’s defense informed that he “respects the court decision and continues to trust in Justice and democratic institutions”, but that he will appeal to the higher court and believes that the decision will be reversed.

“The governor continues to work and present positive results in a state that is working, doing what has not been done in recent decades, always focusing on the well-being of the people of Roraima”, he highlighted.

The second appeal, presented by the Republicans, alleged a request for inclusion in the case file and omission of the TSE ruling. The party also pointed out the lack of divergent votes, which was the subject of the Court’s analysis, and the alleged omission of the Court for not having considered the TSE’s ruling that “would support the group’s claim to participate in the event as a simple assistant to the defense”. The appeals were rejected on all counts.

The appeal presented by Edilson Damião alleged “obscurity” and contradiction in the application of Article 36 of the Electoral Law, highlighting that there was no institutional propaganda with personal promotion during the elections. The Court, however, recognized the existence of irregular advertising.

“The court recognized the existence of irregular institutional propaganda carried out with the aim of personally promoting the central figure of the governor, which was later published on his social networks. The vote was clear and leaves no room for other interpretations, pointing out the existence of advertising institutional irregularity”, explained rapporteur Tânia.

Embargoes for clarification are measures provided for in Brazilian legislation that allow one of the parties to the process – in this case the defense of Denarium and the vice-governor, to question the points that led to a decision – in this case, the revocation of their diploma.

He was accused of taking advantage of the power he has to promote himself during the 2022 elections. The accusations also involve home renovations, the distribution of baskets, and also transfers of R$70 million in resources to municipalities on the eve of the period prohibited by electoral law.

In addition to carrying out personal promotion of public agents and increasing spending on institutional advertising.

The action against him was filed by the “Roraima Very Better” coalition, which had Denarium’s opposing candidate being the former mayor of Boa Vista, Teresa Surita (MDB). In this case, vice-governor Edilson Damião (Republicans) was also the target of losing his mandate.

Antonio Denarium was impeached three times, but managed to reverse one of the decisions in March this year. As a result, he faces two charges that could lead to the loss of his mandate.

Antonio Denarium was re-elected in 2022 for a second term with 163,167 votes, 56.47% of the total votes. Before taking office as governor in 2019, he took charge of the state as a federal intervener appointed by then president Michel Temer (MDB).

His term as governor in 2018 was his first public position. Previously, he was an agribusiness entrepreneur.