Senate approves Public Security PEC with 73 votes in favor

The Federal Senate approved on this Tuesday (3) the Public Security Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC), with 73 votes in favor and none against, in the first round. The approval is considered a priority by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government, which plans to create the Ministry of Public Security following its promulgation.

The Public Security PEC aims to enhance the federal government's role in security matters and incorporates the Unified Public Security System (Susp) into the Federal Constitution. This system was established by law in 2018 and promotes cooperation between federal, state, and municipal levels in combating organized crime.

During the PEC discussion, the Senate decided not to include highlights concerning the reduction of the legal age, which was excluded from the approved text. The proposal to lower the legal age to 16 for lesser crimes and to 14 for heinous crimes was disregarded in favor of advancing the PEC's voting process.

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), who has been in the United States since last week, registered his presence in the Senate session and voted in favor of the PEC. He had left Brazil following his defeat in the presidential elections against Lula, held on October 25.

With the approval in the first round, senators are now expected to analyze possible amendments to the text and hold the second-round vote. For the PEC to be approved, it requires support from at least three-fifths of the votes, equivalent to 49 senators.

After completing the second-round vote, the Public Security PEC will move on to promulgation in the National Congress, marking an important step in the reorganization of Brazil's security system.