Republicans define Garotinho's candidacy for Government of RJ

The party released a statement stating that it had chosen Garotinho unanimously, based on electoral research. The decision was taken at a meeting on Saturday (18).

The Fluminense Republicans convention takes place next Saturday (25).

"I know it won't be easy. Rio is experiencing administrative, moral and political bankruptcy and it is necessary to rebuild and refound the republican principles of the state. I will do that", said Garotinho, in a video on the networks.

Garotinho has invested, in recent months, in participating in podcasts and video cuts in which he claims to have confidential information regarding Federal Police investigations that would involve names from Rio de Janeiro and national politics.

In the cut with the greatest repercussion, he said he had access to a 12-minute video of the supposed "night of the astronauts" promoted by former banker Daniel Vorcaro, from Banco Master, with the participation of "deputies, senators, governors and men who defend the family".

One of the cuts in which Garotinho claims to have had access to the alleged images was reposted by former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro during an open conflict with senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ). In the post, she wrote "the truth of Jesus Christ will prevail", which was read as a hint to her stepson. Flávio denied having participated in the parties. Garotinho, in turn, also said that the senator does not appear in the images he claims to have had access to.

In March, Minister Cristiano Zanin, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), annulled Garotinho's conviction under Operation Chequinho. The decision was made in a habeas corpus.

The former governor had been sentenced by the Electoral Court to 13 years in prison on charges of buying votes in the 2016 municipal elections in exchange for the social benefit of the Citizen Check program.

According to Zanin, the sentence imposed on the former governor was based on evidence considered illegal by the Supreme Court, obtained from the extraction of data from computers at the Municipal Department of Human and Social Development of Campos dos Goytacazes (RJ).

A former ally of Leonel Brizola, Garotinho was mayor of Campos, in the north of Rio de Janeiro, and candidate for governor of Rio for the first time in 1994, being defeated by Marcello Alencar. In 1998, he ran again and was elected by the PDT.

She resigned from her mandate in 2002 -Benedita da Silva (PT) took over- to run for President of the Republic for the PSB. He came in third place. At the Guanabara Palace, he managed to get his wife Rosinha, governor from 2003 to 2006, on board.

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