Absent from Rio debate, Paes draws fire along with Douglas Ruas

Former Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes became a focal point of criticism during the state's first gubernatorial debate, despite his absence. Candidates seized the opportunity to attack Paes, citing past incidents where he allegedly mistreated women and for leaving his mayoral position prematurely after promising to complete his term.

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He pretends to be an opposition candidate. It will be the same theater as [Luiz Fernando] Pezão, who pretended not to be [Sérgio] Cabral's candidate. The voters are not idiots. It won't work.

Douglas Ruas, president of the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly (Alerj), also found himself under fire. Adversaries repeatedly linked him to former governor Cláudio Castro, whom Ruas served as Secretary of Cities for three years. Ruas was also associated with Rodrigo Bacellar, the former Alerj president who was arrested on suspicion of leaking information about a police operation targeting an individual connected to the Comando Vermelho crime faction.

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You are a protégé, you represent Cláudio Castro and especially Rodrigo Bacellar. Rodrigo Bacelar, it is important to remember, is arrested today and, according to the Federal Police, is the arm, he is the political coordinator of Comando Vermelho. You are his protégé.

During the debate, Ruas attempted to establish his own political identity, emphasizing his background as a civil servant and his father's career as a retired police captain. He reiterated that he had never chosen a political boss, seeking to distance himself from Castro. Ruas also addressed his connection to Flávio Bolsonaro, a candidate for president, with one opponent accusing him and Bolsonaro of organizing the PL party in Rio de Janeiro.

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I am not anyone's candidate. I have my own identity. I am Douglas Ruas, I am a career public servant. In the last 12 years, I have served in different public functions and I have never chosen a boss, I have always chosen the mission.

Ruas's campaign strategy included thanking former President Jair Bolsonaro for his candidacy and announcing joint campaign events with Flávio Bolsonaro. Paes, meanwhile, cited the electoral calendar and legal advice as reasons for his non-attendance, stating the debate occurred before the official campaign period and the confirmation of candidate registrations.

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You [Siri], twice here, attacked candidate Flávio Bolsonaro. We are in a state election. Flávio, I will send you a message: what a shame, your candidate does not defend you.