Public security and the fight against organized crime are expected to influence Brazil's 2026 presidential elections [1].

This shift in focus matters because voter perceptions of safety often dictate electoral outcomes. Experts suggest that current legislative frameworks are insufficient to protect the population or effectively incarcerate high-level criminals [1], [2].

Ricardo Gennari, a professor of public security, said that failures in Brazilian legislation allow organized crime to persist and threaten the general population [1]. He said that the inability to curb these groups creates a vacuum of safety that becomes a central campaign issue during election years [1].

Adding to this pressure, the Instituto Sou da Paz launched a public security agenda titled "Vote pela Paz" on June 9, 2026 [2]. The organization aims to place security at the forefront of the political discourse, urging candidates to present concrete plans to tackle systemic violence, and organized crime [2].

International pressures are also intersecting with domestic concerns. On May 29, 2026, reports surfaced regarding the U.S. decision to classify certain criminal factions, such as the PCC and CV, as terrorist organizations [3]. This classification may impact how these groups operate within Brazil and how the Brazilian government is pressured to respond to them [3].

These combined factors — legislative gaps, organized advocacy from groups like Instituto Sou da Paz, and international designations — are shaping the platform for candidates entering the 2026 race [1], [2], [3]. The debate now centers on whether the state can transition from reactive policing to a systemic legislative overhaul that prevents the expansion of criminal syndicates [1].

“Public security and the fight against organized crime are expected to influence Brazil's 2026 presidential elections.”

The intersection of domestic security failures and international terrorism designations suggests that the 2026 election will likely be a referendum on the state's ability to maintain the monopoly on force. If candidates fail to provide a credible legislative roadmap to dismantle organized crime, the electorate may pivot toward more populist or hardline security platforms.