RIO DE JANEIRO · POLITICS
Key Facts
—The headline: The Cláudio Castro Senate withdrawal was announced via social-media video on Thursday, May 28, with the former Rio governor citing the need to focus on his legal defense and family.
—The trigger: Two Federal Police search-and-seizure operations in 11 days targeted the former governor, one tied to the Refit fuel-tax-evasion case and one tied to the Banco Master and Rioprevidência pension fund investigation.
—The TSE ruling: Castro was already declared ineligible to hold office in March by the Superior Electoral Tribunal in the Ceperj abuse-of-power case from the 2022 elections, with his appeal scheduled for June 2.
