Deputy was the favorite for the position; he claimed the existence of an intimate video that could hinder his reelection attempt
Federal deputy Pedro Paulo (PSD-RJ) asked on Monday (22.Jul.2024) the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes (PSD), not to be nominated for the position of vice president on the re-election ticket. The congressman was the preferred name of the municipal manager.
Pedro Paulo sought out Paes in the morning to inform him about the alleged existence of an intimate video of him with a woman. The congressman claimed that the images could be used by opponents during the campaign. He also said that he does not want to expose his family.
The information was first published by the website “Agenda do Poder” and confirmed by Poder360. According to the website, the alleged intimate video was recorded when Pedro Paulo was separated from his wife and its existence had already been disclosed in early 2023.
The congressman’s decision comes just 2 days after the PSD convention that officially announced Paes’ candidacy, who is seeking a 4th term as mayor of Rio de Janeiro. The most likely candidate is now former municipal chief of staff Eduardo Cavaliere (PSD). He was already a candidate, but Pedro Paulo was Paes’ preferred candidate. The president of the Rio de Janeiro City Council, Carlo Caiado (PSD), is also mentioned as a possibility.
Pedro Paulo’s withdrawal is unlikely to reopen negotiations with the PT, which was seeking the vice-presidential position. The party had nominated the former secretary of federative affairs of the SRI (Secretariat of Institutional Relations of the Presidency of the Republic) and former president of the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro, André Ceciliano.
Paes, however, insisted on putting together a “pure-blood” ticket, that is, with a vice-president from the PSD. Last week, the PT, with the consent of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), agreed to maintain its support for Paes even without taking the post. In exchange, it asked that the mayor of Rio de Janeiro maintain his support until 2026. The president has already said that Paes is the “possibly the best city manager this country has ever had”.
Paes has already indicated to allies that he intends to run for governor of Rio de Janeiro in 2026. That is why the choice of who will be his vice president has gained more weight. The mayor, however, is only expected to make his chosen name official at the beginning of August.
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