Flavio Bolsonaro promises an all-out war on crime to win over voters before the presidential election

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro unveiled an ambitious public security program on Thursday aimed at bolstering his presidential campaign and closing the gap with incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the October election. The candidate is banking on a particularly tough stance against crime to broaden his support beyond his traditional electoral base.

Presented in São Paulo, the plan includes twelve priority measures aimed at strengthening the fight against criminal organizations operating throughout the country. Among the most significant proposals is the intention to classify the main Brazilian criminal factions as terrorist organizations.

This approach is part of a very hardline security stance, inherited in part from his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro. According to Flavio Bolsonaro, the authorities must adopt a more offensive strategy against criminal groups that continue to exert a strong influence in several regions of Brazil.

“They will be hunted down with force and intelligence,” the senator declared during the presentation of his program. He also asserted that “any armed criminal carrying a rifle will be shot by our security forces,” illustrating the firm tone adopted during his speech.

The proposal to classify certain criminal factions as terrorist organizations has already found a receptive audience among some officials in Washington during recent discussions. Such a measure could provide authorities with new legal tools to combat these groups.

Flavio Bolsonaro is the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who came to power in 2019 with a platform focused primarily on security. During his term, the homicide rate in Brazil continued to decline, although this trend had begun before he took office.

With just months to go before the election, security remains one of the most sensitive issues for Brazilian voters. By placing this theme at the heart of his campaign, Flavio Bolsonaro hopes to win over independent voters and strengthen his chances against Lula in what promises to be a very close presidential race.