Tarcísio wants to equate criminal factions with terrorism.
The Governor of São Paulo intends to coordinate with allies and parliamentarians a project that would amend the Anti-Terrorism Law.
247 - The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), stated in an interview with CNN Brasil this Tuesday (28) that his team “will delve” into the debate about the possibility of equating the actions of criminal factions to terrorism, which would require changes in Brazilian legislation. “We will seek a broad consensus,” declared the governor, while defending dialogue between state governments, allies and the National Congress.
According to Tarcísio, the idea is to work together with his team and political allies to build a project that will advance in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, where proposals in this regard already exist. He stressed that the priority will be "trying to convince" parliamentarians of the need to modernize legislation to combat organized crime.
The statement was made on the same day that the Rio de Janeiro government launched a massive police operation against the Comando Vermelho gang in the Alemão and Penha complexes, which left at least 64 dead, more than 80 arrested, and 75 rifles seized. The offensive reignited the debate about tightening public security laws and expanding legal instruments against criminal factions.
Changes to the Anti-Terrorism Law
In the Chamber of Deputies, Bill 1283/2025, presented by Representative Danilo Forte (União-CE), proposes to broaden the motivations for the crime of terrorism, specifying critical infrastructure and public utility services, and extending the application of the law to criminal organizations and private militias that commit acts considered terrorist.
The Speaker of the House, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), and the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), stated this Tuesday that both legislative houses are committed to analyzing and unifying proposals in the area of public security.
The federal government, in addition to preparing to send the Public Security Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC), is expected to submit an anti-mafia bill to Congress, announced last week by the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski. The text should focus on suppressing criminal organizations and protecting public institutions.
As the debate progresses, the topic promises to dominate the political agenda in the coming weeks, dividing opinions between those who advocate for stricter laws and those who warn of the risk of broadening the concept of terrorism and criminalizing vulnerable populations.
