Brazil’s Lula says he now backs lowering age of criminal responsibility to 16
Summary
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has changed his position and now supports lowering the age of criminal responsibility for serious crimes from 18 to 16. This shift comes just before the presidential runoff election, where he faces a strong challenge from Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who wants to lower the age to 14.Key Facts
- Lula previously opposed lowering the age but reversed his position during a TV interview one week before the election.
- Around 80% of Brazilians support lowering the age for serious crimes, according to recent polls.
- Serious crimes ("heinous" crimes) include murder, rape, drug trafficking, and falsifying medicines.
- Flávio Bolsonaro and his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, support lowering the age to 14.
- Human rights groups warn that lowering the age may worsen violence and increase gang recruitment in overcrowded prisons.
- A Catholic bishops’ group criticized the proposal, saying it ignores the root causes of violence and harms young people’s rehabilitation.
- Lula is also trying to win votes by supporting other popular measures like shorter work weeks and debt relief for small business owners.
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