In Bacellar’s absence, the deputy tries to establish himself as leader and restructure the forces in Alerj

• “I’m a simple, rural guy. I understand horses and asphalt’, says Alerj interim president Guilherme Delalori
• Jair Bittencourt leaves his post as secretary government and returns to Alerj in a conflict over command of the House

More than just isolated statements, the messages from Delaroli – who wants to present himself as a “simple country guy” who “understands horses and asphalt”, draw a clear map of the project he intends to carry out: rhetorical pacification, strategic alignment with the Executive, internal reorganization to take real control of the legislative machine and calculated distancing from the Bacellar era.

1. The central message: occupy the void left by Bacellar, but without confrontation

Delaroli wants to point out that he has not spoken to Bacellar since his departure. He does not mention the name of the former president when he comments on the latest episodes, but he leaves a direct message when he says he wishes “a year without this type of episode which tarnishes Rio politics”.

This is a silent distancing – not hostile, but enough to make a point. The lack of dialogue and the “strictly administrative” nature of the transition reveal that Delaroli does not intend to position himself as a political extension of the dismissed president. He would therefore only be there to fulfill a mission entrusted by his political mentors.

Even more: by distancing himself from the combative tone of the Bacellar administration, Delaroli is trying to capitalize on the vacuum of authority left by the crisis without engaging in a fight with the former president’s group, which remains active behind the scenes and still controls part of the workings of the House.

2. Defense of “depolarization” in plenary

When Delaroli criticizes the clash between right and left and says that polarization “is very detrimental to Parliament”, he is not just talking about ideology. Speech functions like a political password.

Within Alerj, the main gap between parliamentarians today is not ideological, but internal: executive bloc x Bacellar bloc. By adopting the discourse of pacification, Delaroli attempts to reduce resistance between rival groups and positions himself as an arbiter capable of mediating the reorganization of power.

The rhetoric of moderation functions as an antidote to the narrative that he is “fragile, inexperienced, or easily influenced by one side.” The parliamentarian was responsible for calming the atmosphere of the house, in the midst of the crisis created after the arrest and dismissal of Bacellar.

3. A nod to Cláudio Castro

No message was as explicit as the one addressed to Governor Cláudio Castro. Delaroli emphasized that they speak daily, praised the works and transfers in Itaboraí — a city where his brother, Marcelo Delaroli, is mayor, and used terms such as “harmony” and “partnership,” reinforcing what the deputies had already understood: its management will depend on the stability of the dialogue with the Guanabara Palace.

But the message goes beyond gratitude. By declaring that he has already planned Propag (a federal government program that provides for the refinancing of state debts to the Union, but which depends on the approval of a bill currently being developed in Alerj so that Rio can benefit from it) — essential to unlock the resources of the executive — Delaroli signals that he is ready to be a supporting element of the government in a period of budgetary fragility.

In other words: your power in Alerj will be exercised in coherence with the Executive. And Castro, in turn, gets a president who is less unpredictable and more willing to organize the House in a controlled environment.

4. Exchange of positions of trust

The most political point of the interview was the declaration that all positions related to the presidency would be changed. He not only confirms that he will make replacements, but he also specifies that key positions – chief of staff, deputies, general director – will be filled by people he trusts.

This is the most incisive gesture of internal rupture since Bacellar’s departure.

Delaroli, by constituting his own team, prevents personnel linked to the former president from controlling information flows, agendas, administrative processes and internal channels, fundamental instruments for those who wish to exercise real authority.

This is, in practice, the end of “Bacellar management” within the structure of the House.

By repeatedly asserting that he “has never been a politician”, that he has no electoral ambition and that he prefers to “pave the streets” and “reurbanize the neighborhoods”, Delaroli is trying to build a political shield.

The declaration projects two messages: it communicates that it will not compete for electoral protagonism in 2026, thus reducing competition with other deputies; reinforces the image of a technical manager, dispelling the idea that he is maneuvering to occupy the de facto presidency.

Discourse does not eliminate political reading – and behind the scenes it is treated precisely as a strategy to circulate between rival groups without generating jealousy – but it functions as a tool for decompressing the environment.

By mentioning mayors, thanking municipal investments and reinforcing the importance of local partnerships, Delaroli is sending a message to internal allies, who make up an important part of his base, and to the government, showing that he can be a bridge to municipalities at a time when Castro needs to increase deliveries.

It is also a sign of political survival: mayors are central players in the 2026 electoral race.

Reactions in Parliament

Parliamentarians who previously criticized Delaroli’s discretion now say he “finally imposed himself.” The fear was that he would act as a token figure while Bacellar continued to dictate directions through the halls. The interview was, however, interpreted as a demonstration that the presidency will not be left alone and that Delaroli “is willing to assume political leadership of the House.”

Despite this, Bacellar’s group continues to attempt to maintain control over sensitive committees, appointments and votes. The balance of power within Alerj remains unstable and Delaroli’s speech is only the first movement in a process that is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.