The minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, Guilherme Boulos, defended the Proposal for Amendment to the Public Security Constitution (PEC) as necessary to combat organized crime. The statement was made at the premiere of the program Hello Hello Brazilfrom the National Radiovehicle of Brazilian Communications Company (EBC).
According to the minister, the proposal sent by the government to the National Congress, in April last year, provides working conditions for the Federal Police and other public security institutions that operate throughout the national territory to combat crime where the Federal Constitution currently provides for the responsibility of the states.
“If organized crime is national, how will the Civil Police of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais or Bahia be able to fight it throughout Brazil? They will do it in their territory”, he argues.
In the minister’s assessment, the PEC is capable of being approved by the National Congress and will be more effective in possible aid from the United States government to combat organized crime in Brazil. “Trump’s concern is not with organized crime. He wants to make Latin America a backyard”, highlighted the minister.
United States
The partnership between Brazil and the United States is one of the topics that should be discussed in a conversation between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, scheduled for March with the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Boulos defended that this cooperation begins with the investigation and arrest of criminals who hide in the United States while being investigated by the Brazilian Federal Police. Without mentioning the name of the owner of the Manguinhos Refinery, controlled by the Refit group, businessman Ricardo Magro, Boulos mentioned the investigation into a tax evasion scheme worth approximately R$26 billion.
According to the minister, if the interest of the President of the United States is not in wealth such as oil, critical minerals and rare earths from South American countries, he should start collaborating with Brazil in the deportation of those being investigated.
“Start by arresting those who are in a mansion in Miami – free, free and released in the United States – and have already been caught by the Brazilian courts for being at the head of organized crime in the fuel scheme, in the case of the Rio de Janeiro refinery.”
Master
For Boulos, it is important to clarify that the federal government has been committed to investigating crimes in Brazil, including when it strengthens the Comptroller General of the Union to investigate cases involving people appointed by the government itself, as in the case of the investigation into INSS fraud.
According to the minister, although the scheme of unauthorized associative discounts on retirement and pensions began in 2020, before the current government, the fact did not prevent political appointees from being investigated.
Boulos defended a healthy debate on public security in Brazil that is committed to transparency and not against institutions. The minister recalled that, although there is criticism of the Federal Supreme Court regarding the conduct of Banco Master, it is important to remember the role of the institution in maintaining Brazilian democracy.
On the other hand, he states that this does not mean that the Federal Supreme Court is above good and evil.
“No one is above criticism, no institution is above criticism. Now it’s one thing for you to be able to criticize – like criticizing Toffoli in the case of Master, or any other. That’s part of a healthy democracy. It’s another thing for you to want to close the Supreme Court or make a plan to kill a Supreme Court minister”, he criticized.
