By Ricardo Luiz
Brazil's Senate is trying to unlock the so-called Security PEC (PEC da Segurança), a federal government proposal to amend the Constitution to fight organized crime. The session is scheduled for 4 p.m. on the 3rd, chaired by Davi Alcolumbre. The text needs 49 votes in two rounds, but the mood in the chamber is one of deadlock.
The dispute that stalled the Brazilian Senate vote
The debate had been scheduled for October 15 but was interrupted by disagreements over two amendments on the age of criminal responsibility, currently set at 18 in Brazil.
On one side, Senator Camilo Santana (PT-CE), of the Workers' Party (PT) from the state of Ceará, proposed lowering it to 16 for heinous crimes. On the other, Senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), of the Liberal Party (PL) from Rio Grande do Norte, argued for a general reduction to 16 and a reduction to 14 for extremely serious crimes such as torture, drug trafficking and terrorism.
The government tries to take criminal age off the table
With no consensus, the rapporteur, Senator Rogério Carvalho (PT-SE), from the state of Sergipe, suggested separating the criminal age discussion from the vote on the PEC. The idea would be to approve the text unchanged in the Senate, preventing it from going back to the Chamber of Deputies. So far, however, no agreement along those lines has been reached.
What the security amendment would do
The proposal writes into the Constitution the Unified Public Security System (Sistema Único de Segurança Pública) and increases penalties for members of criminal factions and militias. It also restricts progression to less strict prison regimes for inmates involved in serious crimes, such as leaders of criminal organizations. The text provides for data sharing among security agencies and precautionary measures for the seizure of assets linked to the factions.
Another point expected to weigh on the debate is the authorization for military police officers to register incidents electronically and send them directly to the Judiciary. The PEC also creates a community municipal police force, sets transition rules so that municipal guards can become police officers, and enshrines in the Constitution the National Public Security Fund and the National Penitentiary Fund.
Why it matters: fast track, but no guaranteed votes
A PEC (proposta de emenda à Constituição) is a proposed constitutional amendment, which requires a higher vote threshold than ordinary legislation. In the Senate, that means at least three-fifths of the house, or 49 votes, in two rounds.
The Senate's Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) approved the measure on October 14, and on the same day the plenary authorized an accelerated procedure. The bill has already passed the Chamber of Deputies and now depends on the Senate. If criminal age remains without a deal, the PEC could stay stuck on the floor.
VDD Analysis
The proposal sells itself as strength against organized crime, but it reaches the floor with the government itself trying to remove from the text the issue that is most sensitive for the public. For conservative voters, who demand tougher punishment and respect for victims, the question is direct: if security is a priority, why push criminal age to later?
With information from Bacci Política.
