Senate Sets Review of Tougher Antifaction Bill After Chamber Approval

Overview

• The Chamber of Deputies passed the Derrite report 370–110, sending to the Senate a bill that sharply raises penalties for faction crimes, requires at least 80% of sentences to be served, and applies Article 310 §2º to bar provisional release for organized groups.
• President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Finance Minister Fernando Haddad say the current text weakens crime-fighting and creates legal uncertainty, arguing it would drain Federal Police resources and hinder Receita Federal operations.
• Government teams contend the bill diverts seized-asset funds from the National Anti-Drug Fund, potentially stripping roughly R$45 million used by the Federal Police and breaching constitutional rules on fund allocation.
• Senate relator Alessandro Vieira plans a full technical rewrite with expert hearings, pledging to address constitutional doubts and restore secure financing for the PF, with a report targeted for November and a vote sought before year-end.
• The Ministry of Justice warns that new categories such as an 'ultraviolent criminal organization' may overlap existing organized-crime law, while the broad Chamber support, including Centrão parties, underscored the government's defeat.