José Roberto Arruda in a hearing on TV Globo — Photo: TV Globo
The Public Electoral Ministry once again defended – this time, in the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) – the ineligibility of the former governor and current candidate for the government of the Federal District José Roberto Arruda (PSD).
The statement was sent to the TSE due to an appeal by Arruda, who is trying to make his candidacy viable in this year's elections.
The appeal's rapporteur at the TSE is Minister Dias Toffoli. There is no date for the trial.
On the 3rd, the Regional Electoral Court (TRE-DF) judged Arruda's ticket – and rejected the registration unanimously, accepting two challenges presented against the politician. In addition to the MP, the candidate for district deputy Cláudio Ferreira Domingues (DEM) also contested the candidacy.
At that time, Arruda's defense had already announced that it would appeal to the TSE, but there were still appeals pending judgment at the TRE-DF itself (understand below).
🔎 To challenge is the act of presenting opposition or contesting something. In other words, challenging the registration of a candidacy is a way of trying to prevent a certain person from being a candidate or candidate because they do not meet the required conditions. The decision is up to the Electoral Court.
In the new statement, the MP maintained the understanding that Arruda's ineligibility starts to count from the second conviction, on December 12, 2018.
Election campaign
The Public Ministry also commented on the appeal filed by the defense of Cláudio Ferreira Domingues. In the action, the candidate asked for the immediate suspension of funds from the transfer of funds and Arruda's campaign advertisements.
Regarding the request, the MP argued that TRE-DF acted correctly by maintaining Arruda's campaign normally while the candidacy is 'sub judice'.
Before arriving at the TSE, the Regional Court had to judge two motions for clarification filed by Claudio.
In the most recent decision, the TRE-DF denied the appeal and sentenced Claudio to pay a fine of one minimum wage – the embargoes were considered "merely delaying", with the aim of hindering the conclusion of the analysis.
In this Tuesday's demonstration, the MPE also expressed support for the decision that set a fine and defended the rejection of Cláudio's appeal.
What the candidate says
In a hearing at DF1 last Thursday (17), Arruda minimized convictions and recalled that the process is in the appeal phase. He can continue campaigning and even have his photo on the ballot box while his candidacy remains in court.
"Unfortunately, my cases took years to be judged and there are still pending cases. But I have no doubt that this will be resolved. Now, the most important thing, what the law says, is that you can stay out for eight years. Even if there are no connections, the maximum is 12 years. I've already stayed out for 16 years. I mean, is it perpetual? Something is wrong with that," he declared.
Until the process becomes final, the votes attributed to the candidate are counted normally.
If the TSE validates the candidacy registration, the votes are definitively validated.
If the TSE confirms the TRE's decision and overturns the candidacy, the votes cast for that ticket will be annulled.
Impediment was unanimous in TRE-DF
Rapporteur of the process, electoral judge Guilherme Pupe voted to reject (deny) Arruda's candidacy.
The judges accompanied the rapporteur André Puppin, Asiel Henrique de Sousa, Leonor Aguena and João Egmont.
Judge Néviton Guedes declared himself a suspect, having judged cases involving the Pandora's Box operation at the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region.
➡️Pupe spoke for 50 minutes and, among several arguments, assessed that Arruda's seven convictions for administrative misconduct are not all connected.
➡️And, therefore, it would not be possible to unify all ineligibility from the first conviction, in July 2014.
➡️With this, the count should start with the second conviction, in 2018; or in the most recent one, from June 2026. In either case, according to the rapporteur, the count would prevent candidacy in this year's elections.
Candidacy is in doubt since 2025
Arruda's return to the political scene in the Federal District has raised doubts since the politician joined the PSD, in December 2025.
Between 2013 and 2026, the former governor was convicted in a series of proceedings for administrative improbity related to the Pandora's Box operation.
Arruda's defense states that the restrictions imposed by the Clean Record Law have already ended and, therefore, the politician is fully eligible.
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