Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced on Thursday night that he now supports lowering the age of criminal responsibility for “heinous” crimes from 18 to 16, reversing a policy he had previously upheld. The announcement came during an interview with TV Globo, just a week before the presidential runoff.
The change would allow minors as young as 16 to be held legally accountable for the most serious offences, a move that many observers see as a desperate attempt to broaden Lula’s appeal ahead of the election. The policy shift marks a departure from Brazil’s long-standing position that the minimum age for criminal responsibility is 18.
In the first round of voting, Lula’s opponent, far‑right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, remains slightly ahead in the polls. The runoff, scheduled for next week, will decide whether the incumbent can overturn Bolsonaro’s lead and secure a second term.
By extending criminal liability to younger offenders, Lula may be hoping to attract support from voters concerned about rising crime rates and the perceived leniency of the current legal framework. The proposal applies only to “heinous” crimes, according to the president’s statement.
The timing of the U‑turn, coupled with the electoral stakes, has prompted analysts to view the move as a strategic gambit rather than a purely policy‑driven decision. Whether it will sway enough voters to change the outcome of the runoff remains to be seen.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
