Fernando Haddad, the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) candidate for governor of São Paulo, proposed creating a new agency to combat criminal factions [1].

The proposal signals a shift in security strategy for Brazil's most populous state, focusing on organized crime structures rather than traditional policing methods.

Speaking during a televised interview on radio CBN in São Paulo on July 19, 2026, Haddad said the agency would specifically target the operational capacity of criminal factions [1]. He said that a specialized body is necessary to dismantle the financial and logistical networks of organized crime [2].

During the interview, Haddad also criticized the current security administration. He specifically highlighted the high lethality of the São Paulo Military Police under the leadership of Governor Tarcísio de Freitas [2].

Haddad said the current approach to public security has resulted in an unacceptable number of fatalities. He said that the new agency would provide a more strategic alternative to the current tactics used by state forces [1].

The proposal comes as security remains a central pillar of the 2026 gubernatorial race. By focusing on the systemic nature of factions, Haddad aims to position his campaign as a move toward intelligence-led policing, contrasting his platform with the current administration's record [2].

Supporters of the current governor have previously reacted to Haddad's criticisms of state security policies. The debate over police lethality versus operational efficiency continues to divide the electorate as the election approaches [2].

“Haddad proposed creating a new agency to combat criminal factions.”

This proposal represents a strategic attempt by the PT candidate to pivot the security debate from immediate street-level enforcement to long-term institutional dismantling of organized crime. By criticizing police lethality, Haddad is attempting to attract voters concerned with human rights and police brutality while simultaneously offering a concrete policy tool to address the persistent threat of criminal factions in São Paulo.