Witzel Drops Rio Bid and Throws Support Behind Garotinho

Overview

• Wilson Witzel announced Saturday that he has withdrawn his candidacy for governor of Rio de Janeiro and will back fellow ex‑governor Anthony Garotinho.
• Witzel said he will not run as Garotinho’s vice‑governor and has submitted economic, social and security proposals to the campaign.
• Anthony Garotinho returned to the race after the Supreme Federal Court annulled his prior conviction in March, and he has publicly rebutted attacks from rival Eduardo Paes about his past arrests.
• Recent polls show Eduardo Paes leading the race and favored to beat Garotinho in a hypothetical runoff, so the new Witzel‑Garotinho alignment aims to change who reaches the second round and challenge Assembly president Douglas Ruas for that spot.
• Witzel’s move revives two figures with contested legal histories in a campaign focused on crime and governance, and it could reshape voter choices on public security even as its effect on vote shares remains uncertain.