Ronaldo Caiado, a PSD presidential pre-candidate and former governor of Goiás, accused President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of showing complacency toward crime [1].

The remarks signal a hardening of the political discourse regarding public security as Brazil prepares for upcoming electoral contests. By targeting the president's perceived leniency, Caiado is positioning himself as a law-and-order alternative to the current administration.

Caiado delivered the criticism during the PSD National Convention held in São Paulo on June 26, 2026 [1]. During his address, he specifically targeted the president's approach to organized crime and the judicial treatment of gang members [1].

He recalled a previous remark made by the president suggesting that traffickers are victims of the users of their products [1]. Caiado used this specific phrasing to argue that the administration is failing to combat criminal activity effectively [2].

"Lula tem ‘complacência com o crime’," Caiado said [1].

He further criticized the president's rhetoric by stating that Lula says the gang member is a victim [1]. The speech occurred as part of the party's efforts to consolidate its platform ahead of the presidential cycle [2].

Caiado's focus on the president's language regarding "faccionados" — members of criminal factions — serves as a central pillar of his critique against the current federal security strategy [1]. He argued that such perspectives undermine the fight against organized crime in Brazil [2].

“"Lula tem ‘complacência com o crime’"”

This confrontation highlights the growing divide in Brazil's political landscape regarding the balance between social rehabilitation and punitive justice. By framing President Lula's rhetoric as 'complacency,' Caiado is attempting to mobilize conservative voters who prioritize aggressive policing and stricter sentencing for organized crime members.