President Lula (PT) met with state governors on Thursday (31/10) at the Planalto Palace to discuss changes to the country’s public security policies. The idea is for the federal government to participate more in the formulation and implementation of public policies on the subject, especially in the fight against organized crime. The president wants to send a proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) to Congress to expand the Union’s role in the area. Currently, most security responsibilities are the responsibility of state governments with their civil and military police forces.
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Integration
The government’s intention is to integrate the police forces, strengthen the Public Security System (SUSP), and increase the Union’s responsibilities. In addition, it wants to create a new police force commanded by the federal government with more overt policing powers based on the Federal Highway Police (PRF).
Federal Government Action
This proposal significantly changes the public security system in Brazil and defines a new role for the federal government, which will have more power and more responsibility in fighting crime, working together with states and municipalities. The president understands that it is necessary to reformulate policies in order to, for example, strengthen the fight against organized crime, which operates in different states and countries.
Municipal Elections
Public security is one of the topics that has been the focus of debate in the last elections and that concerns Brazilians. Lula’s policy is the opposite of that of the government of Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), which made it easier for the population to access weapons and ammunition.
Resistance
The governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, responded to President Lula to inform him that he would not participate in the meeting in Brasília and would send a representative. Zema explained that the group of governors of the South and Southeast (Cosud) made suggestions for changes to the text of the PEC to the Ministry of Justice but has not yet received a response. In addition to Zema, Eduardo Leite (Rio Grande do Sul) and Jorginho Mello (Santa Catarina) will also not participate in the meeting.
Main Topics of the PEC
Among the main topics of the text, we have:
– Inserts the Unified Public Security System (SUSP) into the Constitution: Created in 2018, the government believes that, once inserted into the Constitution, it will have more force.
– Gives the Union the power to define general standards for security forces: Includes measures such as the use of body cameras, in addition to guidelines for a national public security policy, which includes the penitentiary system.
– Expands the attributions of the Federal Police: It is the duty of the PF to combat environmental crimes, as well as crimes committed by criminal organizations and private militias.
– Reforms the Federal Highway Police: The PRF will have expanded its activities, including caring for waterways and railways, with an overt role in combating crime, in addition to road issues.
– Unifies the National Public Security Fund and the Penitentiary Fund: Establishes the prohibition of blocking resources from these funds.
Analysis:
The recent meeting between President Lula and state governors signals a significant shift in Brazil’s public security policies, with the aim of increasing federal participation in the formulation and implementation of these policies. Traditionally, public security is the responsibility of the states, but the federal government’s proposal seeks to integrate police forces and strengthen the Unified Public Security System (SUSP).
In addition to integrating police forces, the proposal provides for expanding the responsibilities of the Federal Police. This expansion of responsibilities is a direct response to the complexity of organized crime in Brazil, which requires a coordinated and integrated approach. The unification of public security and prison funds, with the prohibition of resource freezes, is also an attempt to ensure consistent funding for security operations and the prison system, which often contributes to the strengthening of criminal gangs.
