Ary Menezes, from PP, elected mayor of Nova Olinda do Maranhão Jornal Nacional/ Reproduction The mayor of Nova Olinda do Maranhão, Ary Menezes (PP), and the vice-mayor, Ronildo da Farmácia (MDB), will remain in office after a decision by the president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Minister Nunes Marques, to suspend the effects of the revocation determined by the Electoral Court of Maranhão in April this year. The TSE's decision was handed down last Friday (31), in a precautionary measure presented by Ary Menezes' defense. The injunction grants suspensive effect to the special electoral appeal presented by the mayor and prevents, at this time, the removal of the two managers. As a result, Ary Menezes and Ronildo da Farmácia will continue to exercise their mandates until the Superior Electoral Court carries out a new analysis of the process. The decision does not close the case nor does it represent the acquittal of the mayor and deputy. The merits of the accusations of abuse of economic power and illicit capture of suffrage, known as vote buying, will still be examined by the TSE. The appeal is under the rapporteurship of Minister André Mendonça. Minister pointed out possible nullity in the trial When analyzing the defense request, Nunes Marques considered relevant the argument that the trial carried out by the Regional Electoral Court of Maranhão (TRE-MA) could be annulled due to lack of a complete quorum. According to the minister, the Electoral Code requires the participation of all members of the Court in trials that may result in the revocation of candidacy registration, loss of diploma or cancellation of elections. In the decision, Nunes Marques stated that the electoral appeal against the first instance sentence was judged by TRE-MA on April 30 with the participation of five magistrates. Subsequently, the motions for clarification presented in the case were analyzed on July 27 by six judges. However, according to the order of the president of the TSE, the composition of the Maranhão court had already been complete since July 7, after the appointment of three new members of the legal profession. For Nunes Marques, at least in this initial analysis, not enough elements were presented to justify carrying out the trial without the participation of all members of the court. The minister highlighted that the controversy over the composition of the TRE-MA needs to be examined in greater depth by the Superior Electoral Court before the definitive execution of the revocation. Although the April 30 decision was announced as unanimous, the TSE order records that the trial took place with five magistrates. It is precisely the absence of the complete composition of the Court that supports the nullity request presented by the defense. Removal could cause damage that would be difficult to reverse Nunes Marques also considered that the immediate execution of the revocation could cause damage that would be difficult to repair. If the mayor and deputy were removed, the Electoral Court could initiate procedures to hold a new election in the municipality. For the minister, this would cause a break in the continuity of mandates and could create a situation that would be difficult to reverse. In the opinion of the TSE president, if a new election were called and, subsequently, Ary Menezes' appeal was accepted, it would be more difficult to fully restore the previous situation. For this reason, the minister understood that the effects of the revocation should remain suspended until the Superior Court carries out a more detailed analysis of the appeal. The injunction keeps the mayor and vice-president in office, but does not interfere, for now, with the conclusions of the electoral action regarding the alleged irregularities committed during the 2024 campaign. Mayor and vice-president were revoked in the first instance. In August 2025, Ary Menezes and Ronildo da Farmácia were convicted in an Electoral Judicial Investigation Action, known by the acronym AIJE, related to the 2024 municipal elections. former candidate for Mayor of Nova Olinda do Maranhão Thaymara Amorim (PL), who finished the election in second place. According to the accusation, Ary Menezes' party had committed abuse of economic power and illicit vote capture during the electoral campaign. Illicit capture occurs when there is an offer, promise or delivery of some advantage to the voter in exchange for a vote. When judging the case, the Electoral Court of first instance determined the revocation of the diplomas of Ary Menezes and Ronildo da Farmácia. The sentence also imposed a fine and declared the mayor ineligible for a period of eight years. Ineligibility prevents the politician from contesting elections during the period established by the Court. The conviction, however, could still be challenged in higher courts. Therefore, the defense appealed to the Maranhão Regional Electoral Court. TRE-MA maintained the revocation in April On April 30, 2026, TRE-MA judged the appeal presented by the mayor and vice-president and maintained the decision of the first instance. With the judgment, the revocation of the diplomas, the fine imposed in the process and the ineligibility of Ary Menezes for eight years remained valid. At the time, the court confirmed the understanding that there were irregularities related to the buying of votes in the 2024 elections. The decision was announced as unanimous among the magistrates who participated in the session. Even after the revocation was maintained, it was still possible to present appeals to the TRE-MA itself and, subsequently, appeal to the Superior Electoral Court. The defense filed a motion for clarification, a resource used to request clarification on possible omissions, contradictions or unclear points in a judicial decision. These embargoes were analyzed on July 27th. According to Nunes Marques' decision, six magistrates participated in this trial, despite the Court already having its full composition since the 7th of that month. After the conclusion of this stage in the regional court, the defense took the case to the TSE and asked for