Federal deputy Aluísio Mendes (Republicanos-MA) said the proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility will be discussed after the elections [1].
The timing of the debate is critical as Brazil weighs a fundamental shift in its judicial approach to youth crime. The proposal, known as the PEC da Maioridade Penal, seeks to alter the legal threshold for criminal liability in a country facing persistent public safety challenges.
In an interview with CNN Brasil, Mendes said the topic should be addressed after the elections to better fit the political agenda [1]. He said there is significant popular demand for reducing the penal majority, suggesting that public sentiment supports a more stringent approach to juvenile offenders [1].
Under current Brazilian law, citizens under 18 are treated as inimputáveis, meaning they are not held criminally liable in the same manner as adults [1]. This legal framework provides a different set of protections and rehabilitative measures for minors, which the proposed constitutional amendment would modify for certain age groups or crimes.
Mendes said the delay is a matter of strategic timing. By pushing the vote until after the election cycle, lawmakers can navigate the political landscape without the immediate pressures of campaigning, while still acknowledging the public's desire for legal reform [1].
“the proposal to lower the age of criminal responsibility will be discussed after the elections”
The decision to postpone the debate on the PEC da Maioridade Penal reflects a strategic political calculation to avoid polarizing the electorate during an active campaign. However, the acknowledgment of 'popular demand' suggests that the government is leveraging public frustration with crime to build a mandate for tougher sentencing laws once the elections conclude.
