A revised bill intended to bolster Brazil’s response to organized crime is drawing criticism and sparking political friction as it heads for a vote in the Chamber of Deputies.The “Anti-Facção” law, initially proposed by the Lula management, has been significantly altered by rapporteur Rep. Guilherme Derrite, who alleges a lack of consultation with the executive branch. The changes center on asset forfeiture and jurisdictional powers, raising concerns among legal experts about potential complications while underscoring broader disagreements on how to address Brazil’s ongoing security challenges.
A revised version of a controversial bill targeting organized crime, known as the “Anti-Facção” law, is facing scrutiny in Brazil’s Congress. The latest draft, presented Tuesday by Rep. Guilherme Derrite (PP-SP), includes pointed criticisms of the federal government and adjustments to how seized assets are handled.
The bill aims to crack down on criminal organizations, but Derrite’s changes suggest dissatisfaction with the original proposal put forward by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration. The move underscores tensions between the executive and legislative branches regarding strategies to combat crime.
Derrite stated he was not consulted by the government during the bill’s development, a claim he included directly within the revised text. “Despite the fact that this rapporteur was not contacted at any time by a representative of the federal government, I became aware through the media of certain points that were unwelcome, for which reason I made modifications,” he wrote in a section altering the allocation of funds from seized assets.
He also directly criticized the initial proposal from the President’s office, arguing it lacked sufficient measures to address the issue. “The project currently under analysis brings an extremely slight increase in penalties, remains completely silent on the tightening of parole, on the reduction of benefits for convicts, on measures to seize assets and values used by ultraviolent organized crime, on means of forfeiture of assets in the civil sphere, among others. In short, it does not effectively solve the problem,” Derrite asserted.
The lawmaker defended the changes he made after consulting with a wide range of stakeholders. “No less importantly, I have always made it clear that my initial opinion was a starting point, not an end point. After much dialogue with deputies, senators, judges, members of the Public Ministry, public security professionals, political leaders and lawyers, I incorporated relevant points into the substitute,” he explained.
The new text restores powers to the Federal Revenue Service and adjusts how resources seized during Federal Police investigations are distributed. The proposal is scheduled for a vote on the floor of the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday.
The bill’s revisions come as Brazil grapples with ongoing challenges related to organized crime and drug trafficking, prompting debate over the most effective strategies for law enforcement and judicial reform. Some legal experts have warned that the changes could create legal complications.
