The United States’ decision to classify the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Comando Vermelho (CV) as terrorist organizations became part of the electoral debate in São Paulo, the PCC’s main stronghold and the largest Brazilian electoral college.
The governor and pre-candidate for re-election, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), celebrated and associated the decision with the toughening of the fight against organized crime.
HAS CNNrepresents “a victory in the fight against organized crime” and that the measure “opens the doors to important international cooperation”.
On social media, the governor adopted an even more incisive tone.
“PCC and CV are not factions: they are terrorists armed against the Brazilian people and operating beyond our borders. Those who dominate territories, impose curfews, kill innocent people and defy the State practice terror. Brazil can no longer be held hostage by criminals. Terrorists must be behind bars, without relativization. Congratulations to the firm and necessary”, he wrote.
The demonstration takes place in the midst of a pre-campaign in which the topic of public security has occupied a central space in the governor’s speeches.
Tarcísio’s allies say that the fight against organized crime should be one of the main assets of the re-election campaign. Members of the governor’s environment believe that opponents tend to exploit crime as one of the points of vulnerability in state management.
On the other hand, Tarcísio’s political group intends to highlight indicators of reduction in robberies and thefts recorded during the government, in addition to the actions in the Cracolândia region, highlighted by allies as one of the main symbols of the confrontation against the PCC in the capital of São Paulo.
An ally of the governor heard by the CNN under reservation, he stated that the proximity between Tarcísio and the PL pre-candidate for President, Flávio Bolsonaro, also tends to produce electoral dividends after the coordination that preceded the American decision.
The topic was also explored by Guilherme Derrite (PP), pre-candidate for the Senate and former secretary of Public Security in São Paulo.
“PCC and CV are terrorists. Period. The US decision recognizes what millions of Brazilians already know in practice. Congratulations to Senator Flávio Bolsonaro for the articulation. The fight against organized crime requires firmness and international cooperation”, he published.
On the other side of the political dispute, neither the pre-candidate for the São Paulo government Fernando Haddad (PT) nor the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have so far commented on the decision announced by the United States. Wanted by CNNHaddad did not return.
On previous occasions, however, members of the federal government and allies of the president criticized the classification of criminal factions as terrorist organizations. The argument presented is that PCC and Comando Vermelho are criminal groups focused on profit and drug trafficking, without political or ideological motivation, a characteristic normally associated with terrorism.
The divergence highlights one of the lines of confrontation that should mark the 2026 São Paulo election. While Tarcísio’s allies defend a tougher approach against factions and celebrate the framework adopted by the United States, sectors linked to the PT have maintained that the fight against organized crime must occur through the instruments already provided for in criminal legislation and to combat criminal organizations.
The classification announced by the United States comes into force in the coming days and expands the possibility of financial sanctions and blocking of assets related to the factions.
