Lewandowski changes position and supports re-creation of the Ministry of Public Security

The Minister of Justice, Ricardo Lewandowski, changed his position and began to agree with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) on the re-creation of the Ministry of Public Security, if the proposed amendment to the Constitution (PEC) that addresses the issue advances in Congress. The assessment was made in an interview with the Economic Valuepublished this Monday, 22.

When defending the return of the portfolio, Lewandowski stated that the change will only make sense if it is accompanied by an expansion of the Union’s role in combating crime and a significant increase in federal resources. According to him, without “substantial funds”, the new ministry tends to be ineffective.

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“I agree with the president that this division (Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Public Security) would make sense, firstly, if there was an expansion of the Union’s role in combating crime. Secondly, if substantial funds were provided, because today we have a paltry sum of R$2 billion in our National Public Security Fund,” he stated.

In the interview, the minister also criticized the changes promoted by the Chamber of Deputies in the Security PEC text sent by the government. Although he praised the rapporteur, deputy Mendonça’s willingness to dialogue, Lewandowski assessed that the approved version distances itself from the central axis of the Executive’s proposal.

“The main criticism I make is that the text is, in a way, contrary to the proposal we presented. The main point of the PEC was the coordination of forces, and that was left out”, he said. For him, by prioritizing decentralization and strengthening local forces, the text could represent a setback in relation to the national coordination model provided for in the Unified Public Security System (Susp), created in 2018.

Lewandowski also commented on the Dosimetry Bill, approved by the Chamber and the Senate. A former minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), he stated that the revision of the rule will still cross his desk. President Lula has already declared that he intends to veto the text, which reduces sentences for those convicted of attempted coup d’état.

“As you ease the sanctions against this type of attack against institutions, which is extremely serious, you can encourage future attacks against the Democratic Rule of Law”, he commented.