Brazil Opposition Accuses President Lula of Shielding PCC Amid Trump Terrorist Label Push

Brazilian opposition lawmakers claim President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is protecting the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) from being designated a terrorist organization, a move advocated by U.S. President Donald Trump. The allegation intensified after the September 2024 arrest of digital influencer Deolane Bezerra, whom prosecutors say acted as a financial operator and laundered money for the PCC.

Deputy Messias Donato (União‑ES) described the government's stance as “omission for convenience,” while former prosecutor Deputy Alfredo Gaspar (PL‑AL) warned of “the proximity of organized crime with the Republic.” Deputies Kim Kataguiri (Missão‑SP) and Evair de Melo (Rep‑ES) echoed criticism, calling the situation a “normalization of the absurd” and accusing the president of refusing to treat the faction as terrorism. No official response from the presidency was reported.

The controversy centers on whether the federal administration will align with Trump’s push to label the PCC as a terrorist group, a move that could have legal and operational implications for Brazil’s fight against organized crime.