Rio Asks Federal Forces to Back Election Security After Earlier Refusal

Overview

• The Rio de Janeiro interim government, led by acting governor Ricardo Couto, reversed an earlier refusal and formally asked the regional electoral court to request federal security reinforcement for upcoming elections.
• Officials said the state retains operational capacity but called federal cooperation 'extremely important' to secure polling places, transport and the custody of electronic ballot boxes.
• Prosecutors disclosed investigations that reported infiltration of the Terceiro Comando Puro faction into state politics, a development that authorities cite as increasing risks to the integrity and safety of the vote.
• The government also renewed deployment of the Força Nacional through September to reinforce patrols on federal highways, at Galeão airport and on major expressways such as Avenida Brasil, Linha Amarela and Linha Vermelha.
• The move secures a procedural route to mobilize federal troops during the electoral period and comes ahead of an August Supreme Federal Court decision that could trigger a separate replacement‑governor vote this year.