Former Rio de Janeiro governor Anthony Garotinho, the Republicanos party’s candidate for the 2026 state gubernatorial election, initially considered former BOPE officer André Monteiro as his running mate. Garotinho consulted allies about Monteiro, a Democratas party member and elite police veteran, and reportedly heard positive feedback before ultimately choosing PM Major Elaine Gonçalves, also a Democratas, for the ticket.
Initial Consideration of Monteiro
Garotinho’s outreach to gauge Monteiro’s suitability occurred before he formally announced Elaine Gonçalves as his vice‑presidential pick in early August. Monteiro, who served in the Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE), Rio’s elite police unit, was viewed as a credible security‑focused addition to the ticket. Though Garotinho expressed interest, he ultimately set Monteiro aside and moved forward with Gonçalves.
Elaine Gonçalves Selection and Sudden Exit
Elaine Gonçalves, a serving major in the Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, was announced as Garotinho’s running mate at the start of August. Her candidacy was even registered with the electoral court. However, just days later, on Saturday, she announced her withdrawal from the race, citing personal reasons and stating she would return to her police duties.
Business Links and Corruption Allegations
The withdrawal came after reports surfaced that Gonçalves is a partner in Cromus Segurança e Vigilância Patrimonial Ltda, a security firm whose other partner is Fábio Picanço, the former president of the Companhia de Desenvolvimento Industrial do Estado do Rio (Codin). In 2025, Garotinho, while serving in the Senate, chaired a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee (CPI) on Organized Crime and raised suspicions of a corruption scheme involving fiscal incentives, Codin, the State Treasury Secretariat, and the state‑owned AgeRio agency. He specifically named Picanço and implied Codin’s involvement.
Impact on Garotinho’s Ticket
With Gonçalves out, Garotinho must now find a new running mate as the campaign season advances. The episode underscores the scrutiny faced by candidates whose associates have ties to firms implicated in past corruption probes. Political analysts note that the incident may push Garotinho to prioritize candidates with cleaner private‑sector backgrounds to avoid further distractions.
Context for International Readers
BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais) is Rio de Janeiro’s elite police tactical unit, comparable to a SWAT team. The Democratas party is a traditional centre‑right Brazilian political party. Codin is a state‑owned industrial development company, and AgeRio is the Rio de Janeiro state agency for investment promotion. A CPI (Comissão Parlamentar de Inquérito) is a temporary congressional investigation committee with powers to summon witnesses and request documents.