Lélis says he will not appeal and withdraws his candidacy.

Tocantins 247 - One day after the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) accepted an appeal and denied the registration of the vice-governor candidate, Marcelo Lélis, from the coalition "Experience Makes the Change," Lélis released an open letter to the public announcing his withdrawal from the race and his departure from the election. Lélis's replacement as Marcelo Miranda's running mate is already being discussed within the Green Party (PV) and the coalition, and, according to Tocantins 247, among the most likely candidates is the federal deputy candidate Freire Júnior, also from the PV. 

According to Lélis, as stated in the letter, the decision to forgo appealing the ruling to the TSE itself and also to the Superior Court of Justice was intended to eliminate any argument of political instability. 

"The injustice that occurred against me in the first instance and in the Regional Electoral Court – on the part of some judges who insist on legislating where the law does not – I hope to see corrected in the discussion of the merits of this process, which is still inconclusive," says the congressman. 

The rapporteur for Marcelo Lélis's registration at the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), Minister Gilmar Mendes, accepted the appeals filed by the coalition "The change we see" and by the candidate for federal deputy Tiago Andrino (PP) against the decision of the TRE (Regional Electoral Court), which had approved the candidacy of the PP candidate for vice-governor. Marcelo Lélis was convicted by the TRE for abuse of economic power due to excessive spending on campaign workers and fuel in the 2012 elections, when he was a candidate for mayor of Palmas. 

The court overturned one of Lélis's convictions, the hiring of campaign workers. However, the conviction for excessive fuel expenses was upheld. And it was this conviction that led the ministers of the Electoral Court, unanimously, to recognize the deputy's ineligibility.

Read Marcelo Lélis's resignation letter in full. 

"Friends of Tocantins,

In light of the ruling issued yesterday by the TSE – Superior Electoral Court, accepting an appeal against my candidacy for vice-governor for the Green Party in the coalition “Experience Makes the Change”, I have decided – in order to put an end to any opposition argument of political instability – to renounce the vice-governor candidacy, which was approved at the convention.

I have decided not to appeal to the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) or the STJ (Superior Court of Justice) – appeals that I could still pursue at this time – in order to strengthen our fight for a better Tocantins, at a time when the registration of our candidate for governor, Marcelo Miranda, is confirmed, to the joy of the people of our state.

The injustice that occurred against me in the first instance and in the Regional Electoral Court – on the part of some judges who insist on legislating where the law does not – I hope to see corrected in the discussion of the merits of this still inconclusive process.

With my resignation, the Green Party (PV) begins discussions on a new candidate, which it will do in conjunction with the entire political group comprised of the parties that make up this positive alliance in favor of new and better days for Tocantins. 

Always fighting, I thank everyone who stands with us during this important moment in our history.

Marcelo Lelis

Read also With Lélis ineligible, Freire Júnior could be the new vice-presidential candidate.