How the Antifacção Bill passed in the Chamber, party-by-party and deputy-by-deputy votes on new rules and penalties
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved the Antifacção Bill in a decisive vote, expanding penalties and investigative powers aimed at combating organized crime. The official report, translated from Portuguese, stated, ‘There were 370 votes in favor and 110 votes against, as well as 3 abstentions. 29 deputies were absent.’ The vote clears a major step for the proposal that was sent by the federal government to Congress in October.
What the bill changes, in plain terms
The Antifacção Bill toughens sentences, creates new crimes, expands investigative powers, and sets special rules for leaders of criminal organizations. Among its core measures, the text increases penalties for acts linked to criminal organizations, with sentences that can reach up to 40 years in prison.
The bill’s scope includes broader definitions of organized crime, higher maximum penalties for related offenses, and procedural changes designed to allow prosecutors and police greater latitude in investigations. Supporters say these tools will make it easier to dismantle criminal networks, while critics warn about risks to civil liberties and judicial safeguards.
How parties and deputies voted
Voting behavior split largely along party lines, with some clear blocks. According to the session record, ‘All deputies present from PT in the session voted against the project; 65 votes.’ The PSOL also recorded unanimous opposition from its deputies, with ’12 votes.’ Several other parties recorded majority opposition, including PCdoB, PSB, and PV, while a broad set of parties voted predominantly in favor.
On the pro-approval side, the PL cast 80 votes in favor, with only two deputies voting against, identified as Eros Biondini, of Minas Gerais, and João Carlos Bacelar, of Bahia. Several center-right and right-leaning parties gave dominant support to the bill, including União Brasil, PP, PSD, Republicanos, MDB, PDT, Podemos, PSDB, and Solidariedade, each reporting strong majorities voting in favor.
Smaller parties showed unified positions, with all deputies present from PRB, Novo, and Cidadania voting in favor. The session recorded three abstentions, from Pastor Sargento Isidório (Avante-BA), Ricardo Galvão (Rede-SP), and Zé Haroldo Cathedral (PSD-RR).
Key political players and procedure
The bill was submitted to Congress by the federal government in October. The president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta, of the Republicanos party in Paraíba, chose Deputy Guilherme Derrite, of the Progressistas party from São Paulo, to act as rapporteur. Derrite is also identified as the State Secretary of Public Security for the government of São Paulo, a credential supporters pointed to as relevant background for reporting on this security-focused bill.
The choice of rapporteur and the speed of approval in the Chamber underline the political momentum behind the measure, while divisions inside several parties reflect ongoing debates about balancing public security and civil rights safeguards.
What happens next, and why it matters
With the Chamber’s approval, the bill will move forward in the legislative process, potentially returning to the Senate for further consideration, depending on the final text. If enacted, the Antifacção Bill would reshape criminal policy in Brazil by raising maximum penalties, creating new offenses tied to organized groups, and granting broader investigative authorities.
Proponents argue the law gives law enforcement needed tools to fight entrenched criminal networks, while opponents caution that increased powers and longer sentences must be paired with robust oversight, judicial guarantees, and safeguards against misuse. The vote, recorded as 370 in favor, 110 against, and 3 abstentions, marks a significant moment in Brazil’s ongoing debate over public security and the rule of law.
For readers following the legislative process, the party-level and deputy-level breakdowns released after the session provide a map of political alignments that will shape subsequent negotiations and any amendments as the bill advances through Congress.
