The president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), decided to appoint senator Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE), rapporteur of the CPI on Organized Crime, to conduct the analysis in the Senate of the Anti-Faction project approved by the Chamber. The choice occurs at a time when Congress seeks to articulate a unified response to the advance of factions and militias in different states and the government is pressing for changes to the final wording approved by deputies.
Modified by deputy Guilherme Derrite (PP-SP) after six versions, the project creates a new legal framework for ultra-violent factions, militias and paramilitary groups.
The proposal toughens sentences — which can reach 40 years — standardizes stricter rules for regime progression, expands the possibilities for asset confiscation and determines the creation of a national database with information shared between the Union and states.
Continues after advertising
The project also provides for the trial of homicides linked to factions by collegiate courts and expands mechanisms for restricting prison aid for members of these groups.
In the Senate, Vieira will take over as rapporteur amid demands for adjustments.
Among the points that should be the subject of negotiation are:
The scope of extraordinary loss of assets
The distribution of seized values and the allocation of resources to the Federal Police.
The definition of an ultra-violent criminal organization.
Continues after advertising
On Tuesday, the Minister of the Secretariat of Institutional Relations, Gleisi Hoffmann, assessed that the text still represented a “legislative mess”, weakened the actions of the Federal Police (PF) and made the fight against crime more difficult.
The main criticism of the Lula government concerns the criminal classification of “ultra-violent criminal organization” to punish members of factions. The text centralizes definitions, conduct and penalties in a single framework — structuring what is currently dispersed across several standards.
The fact that Derrite’s text creates a new standard with a criminal type similar to that of a criminal organization without repealing the existing 2013 law, in the government’s opinion, could create loopholes that, in practice, render the new law harmless, with lawyers asking for it to be framed under the old legislation to benefit their clients.
Continues after advertising
“What is being voted on (in the Chamber) is something that, in our understanding, makes the fight against criminal factions very difficult. I hope that we can reverse this situation in the Senate, that we can have a higher level discussion in relation to the fight against organized crime in Brazil”, said Gleisi.
According to Alcolumbre’s interlocutors, the choice of the senator from Sergipe reflects his capacity for dialogue and the technical experience obtained at the CPI.
The indication adds to the work of the Organized Crime CPI, also under Vieira’s report.
Continues after advertising
When announcing the choice, Alcolumbre highlighted Vieira’s resume.
“The senator has a long legal career and in the judicial police of the state of Sergipe. He has extensive experience as a profession, but now also as a legislator and senator of the Republic. He also has on his personal agenda the protection of Brazilians against organized crime”, said Davi.
Alcolumbre acknowledged that the decision will not please everyone and stated that Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) and Sergio Moro (União-PR) also showed interest in taking on the role of rapporteur.
Continues after advertising
According to him, however, Vieira’s appointment seeks to avoid “ideological contamination”, protect the project and ensure that the Senate delivers a solid response to the country.
The expectation is that the project will officially reach the House this week, paving the way for Vieira to begin technical meetings with the Ministry of Justice, Finance, security forces and experts. If there are substantial changes, the text will have to return to the Chamber. Even so, the rapporteur’s allies say the objective is to speed up the discussion.
