Anti-gang bill raises political tensions

Government officials argue that appointing Mr. Derrite—currently on leave from his post as São Paulo’s Secretary of Public Security—to draft the report undermines technical debate and politicizes the discussion.

The choice has heightened political tensions ahead of the 2026 elections, since Mr. Derrite belongs to the circle of São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), widely seen as President Lula’s (Workers’ Party, PT) main potential challenger. Government allies have escalated their criticism of both the bill and Chamber Speaker Hugo Motta (Republicans of Paraíba), who appointed Mr. Derrite as rapporteur.

Minister of Institutional RelationsGleisi Hoffmann hinted that the Lula administration is preparing for a political showdown. She said Mr. Derrite’s proposals would serve as a “free pass” for criminal factions and hinder the Federal Police’s work. One of the most controversial provisions would allow the Federal Police to act only “upon request from the state governor.”

According to the minister, if Mr. Derrite insists on maintaining his version, the government will refuse to negotiate and take the dispute to a floor vote, even at the risk of losing. The governing bloc plans to submit an amendment restoring the original text.

Mr. Motta and Ms. Hoffmann were scheduled to meet on Monday evening (10), and the minister said she would express her “concern” over the report. She argued that the Chamber must “undo” the current course before scheduling the vote.

“We need to reverse this. Paralyzing the Federal Police is bad for the country. It will harm Brazil and restrict the Federal Police,” she said, adding that she had asked for a nonpartisan debate. “He [Motta] chose someone [Derrite] with a very specific ideological stance on the issue,” Ms. Hoffmann told GloboNews.

In a statement, the Federal Police said it views the changes with “deep concern.” “Under the report presented, the Federal Police’s historic institutional role in combating crime—particularly against powerful criminals and large-scale organizations—could face significant restrictions. Federal Police operations would depend on requests from state governments, creating a real risk of weakening the fight against organized crime.”

The Federal Police also warned that limiting its powers would compromise investigations into corruption, drug trafficking, embezzlement of public funds, and human trafficking, calling the proposed changes “a serious setback.”

“The original proposal submitted by the Brazilian government aims to strengthen law enforcement against organized crime. However, the version now under discussion in Congress undermines this goal by introducing structural changes that weaken the public interest,” the statement said.

Federal Police members interviewed by Valor also criticized the bill, saying it conflates organized crime and terrorism in several sections—another key point of contention between the government and opposition. One official called the report “terrible” and “legally flawed.”

In a separate statement, the Federal Revenue Service also voiced concerns, arguing that making Federal Police action dependent on “a request from the state governor opens the door to unacceptable interference, weakens federal authority, all in addition to being unconstitutional.”

“The Federal Revenue relies on the independent operation of the Federal Police to continue joint efforts to dismantle the financial structures of criminal organizations,” the agency added.

Mr. Motta said on social media that he helped mediate talks between Mr. Derrite and Federal Police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues to ensure the Federal Police retains its investigative powers against organized crime.

People close to the Chamber speaker defended his prerogative to select the rapporteur, dismissing the backlash as “overblown.” They said Mr. Motta had informed the government of his choice in advance and believes the report is being drafted in a “technical and nonpartisan” manner. According to his aides, Mr. Motta views the bill as “tough but necessary,” not a “witch hunt.”

He believes the proposal could unite the Chamber around a broad consensus, similar to the recent approval of the Digital Child and Adolescent Statute. “No one will want to vote against this,” he said, adding that the issue affects most Brazilian states and carries strong popular appeal.

President Lula reportedly called Mr. Motta to discuss the bill, but according to aides, the Chamber leader remains “calm” about Mr. Derrite’s appointment and expects the final version to reflect a “broad, technical study.” The text will be discussed at a leaders’ meeting on Tuesday.

On Monday, Mr. Motta also met with Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to discuss the fight against organized crime, during which the bill was addressed. A separate meeting between Mr. Motta and state governors is scheduled for later this week.

Earlier on GloboNews, Mr. Derrite said his report consolidates proposals from several lawmakers. Responding to criticism from National Secretary of Public Security Mário Sarrubbo that the draft removes key provisions such as “following the money and seizing criminal assets,” Mr. Derrite said those items could be reinstated. “There’s a lot of political ideology involved. The report can be changed before the vote. We can incorporate all suggestions, including that one—which we already apply in São Paulo. And we will preserve the independence of state police forces,” he said.

Mr. Sarrubbo told Valor that Mr. Derrite’s report is “unconstitutional” and effectively equates criminal factions with terrorist groups. On social media, Mr. Derrite said he has been consulting with lawmakers, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and law enforcement professionals “who understand the real challenges on the ground” to shape the text. “This is a cross-party issue, and I’m willing to listen to all sides,” he said.

He added that he had accepted proposals to expand financial sanctions against criminal organizations, create a national registry of gang members, and explicitly bar convicted members from holding public office.

The ruling Workers’ Party (PT) plans to launch a social media campaign linking the debate on the anti-gang framework to the recent controversy over the “shielding amendment,” which weakened corruption probes against lawmakers before being overturned by the Senate. PT strategists hope to use public outrage over that vote to regain momentum in the current debate.

PT national president Edinho Silva called Mr. Derrite’s appointment “disrespectful” to lawmakers and said it politicized the issue. “Brazil won’t confront such a serious challenge by turning this into a campaign platform,” he said.