BRAZIL · SECURITY
Key Facts
- The country Brazil is Latin America’s largest economy and a federal republic whose 81 senators must approve any constitutional amendment by three fifths in two rounds.
- Why it matters The amendment comes from the Lula government and is tied to a planned federal Ministry of Public Security, and it targets the kind of criminal factions that Washington now lists as terrorist groups.
- Why now The Senate president put the amendment on the agenda on 30 October 2026 for a floor vote on Tuesday 3 November, after it slipped past the 25 October runoff.
- What happened The first floor vote is scheduled on an amendment that writes a national security system into the Constitution and imposes a harsher penal regime on the leaders and members of gangs and militias.
- The numbers The text needs 49 of 81 votes in each of two rounds, and five floor amendments, two of them on the age of criminal responsibility, had been filed by 30 October.
- What it means for you The vote shows whether Brazil arms its own authorities against factions that Washington treats as terrorist organizations, a point for companies, banks and investors with exposure there.
- Still open It is not yet known whether the criminal-age change will be voted with the text or whether 49 senators will back it.
- Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 75.0 points (October 2026 edition).
In Plain English
A PEC is a proposal for an amendment to the Constitution, and it needs three fifths of the Senate, or 49 of 81 senators, in each of two voting rounds. Susp is the Unified Public Security System, a framework meant to make federal, state and local forces work together.
The Primeiro Comando da Capital and the Comando Vermelho are two Brazilian criminal factions that the United States has designated as terrorist organizations. Militias are paramilitary groups, and the amendment treats them like factions.
Brazil’s Senate president, Davi Alcolumbre, has scheduled a floor vote on the public security amendment for Tuesday 3 November 2026, with the session agenda set for 4 p.m. in Brasília, which is 2 p.m. Eastern time in the United States. The amendment, known as PEC 18/2025, writes a national public security system into the Constitution and imposes a tougher penal regime on the leaders and members of gangs and militias.
Washington designated two Brazilian factions, the Primeiro Comando da Capital and the Comando Vermelho, as foreign terrorist organizations in State Department notices dated 28 May 2026 and published on 5 June 2026, so the vote bears on the type of criminal groups that US law now treats as terrorists. Earlier coverage explains how the US terror designation took effect and why the Senate delayed this vote past the runoff.
What the Amendment Does
PEC 18/2025 was sent to Congress by the Executive and puts the Unified Public Security System, known as Susp, into the Constitution, with more funding and clearer duties for each level of government. It also lets the Union, the states and the Federal District pass laws on security, including joint task forces and the organization of police forces and municipal guards.
For members of criminal factions, paramilitary groups and militias, the text requires prison in a maximum-security facility, restricts the move to milder prison regimes and procedural benefits, and allows the seizure of assets tied to crime without compensation. It also makes companies involved in the activity liable and protects whistleblowers and their families.
How the Vote Got Here
The Senate Constitution and Justice Committee approved the text on 14 October 2026, and the plenary approved a request the same day that cancels the five discussion sessions normally needed before a first-round vote and the three needed before a second round. The rapporteur, Senator Rogério Carvalho of the Workers’ Party, changed the text passed by the Chamber of Deputies and accepted 4 of the 81 amendments filed by senators.
Carvalho removed an article that would have sent sports-betting revenue to public security funds, but he kept 10% of the surplus of the Pre-Salt Sovereign Fund for the sector. Government allies say that if a criminal-age change sends the text back to the Chamber of Deputies they would split the amendment, so that the agreed parts can be promulgated, the national outlet g1 reports.
The Criminal Age Fight
The vote slipped past the 25 October runoff because the Senate could not agree on lowering the age of criminal responsibility, and g1 reports that Alcolumbre withdrew the item because neither the government nor the opposition had the votes for its own amendments. The government leader in the Senate, Teresa Leitão of the Workers’ Party, says the government still opposes voting on criminal age together with the amendment and expects the topic to reach the floor anyway.
Five floor amendments had been filed by Friday 30 October, and two of them change the age of criminal responsibility. Senator Camilo Santana of the Workers’ Party proposes 16 instead of 18 for heinous crimes, while Senator Rogério Marinho of the Liberal Party proposes 16 as the general rule and 14 for heinous crimes, torture, drug trafficking and terrorism.
Washington and the Gangs
The United States designated the Primeiro Comando da Capital and the Comando Vermelho as foreign terrorist organizations under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as specially designated global terrorists under Executive Order 13224. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed both notices on 28 May 2026, and the foreign terrorist organization designations took effect when they were published in the Federal Register on 5 June 2026.
The notice under Executive Order 13224 skipped advance warning to affected persons because funds can be moved instantly, so blocking measures could apply at once. The Senate text pursues a parallel track at home by allowing the seizure of assets tied to factions without compensation.
What It Means for You
For US readers, the vote shows whether Brazil will equip its own authorities against the factions that Washington now calls terrorists, which matters to companies, banks and investors with exposure in Brazil. If the amendment passes, the asset-seizure and corporate-liability rules would reach companies involved in criminal activity.
Investors should also note that the text sets aside 10% of the Pre-Salt Sovereign Fund surplus for public security, a fiscal commitment the rapporteur kept. Travellers face no immediate change, since nothing alters until the amendment is voted twice and promulgated.
What Is Not Known
It is not known whether the Senate will vote on the criminal-age amendments together with the text, because the five floor amendments remain pending. The 49 votes needed in each round are also uncertain, since g1 reports that neither the government nor the opposition was sure of the votes for its own amendments when the item was pulled.
Whether the Chamber of Deputies must vote again on parts of the text depends on what the Senate changes, and government allies have floated splitting the amendment to avoid delay. No US government statement linking the terrorist designations to this legislation is known.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Brazil’s Senate vote on the security amendment?
Senate president Davi Alcolumbre scheduled the vote for Tuesday 3 November 2026, with the session agenda set for 4 p.m. in Brasília. That is 2 p.m. Eastern time in the United States.
What does Brazil’s security amendment do?
PEC 18/2025 writes the Unified Public Security System into the Constitution and sets a tougher penal regime for faction and militia leaders and members. It requires maximum-security prison for them and allows seizure of criminal assets without compensation.
How many votes does the amendment need?
A constitutional amendment needs three fifths of the Senate, or 49 of 81 senators, in each of two voting rounds. On 14 October 2026 the Senate waived the usual waiting sessions between discussion and voting.
Why does the amendment matter to US readers?
Washington designated Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho as terrorist organizations in 2026, and the amendment targets the same type of criminal factions. It also adds asset seizure and liability for companies involved.
Sources: Agência Senado, 30 October 2026; g1, 30 October 2026; US Federal Register, foreign terrorist organization designation, 5 June 2026; US Federal Register, specially designated global terrorist designations, 5 June 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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