A police operation in Rio de Janeiro against the Comando Vermelho, resulting in at least 121 deaths, reignited the debate on public security between left and right. Right-wing governors praised the action as a success, while President Lula criticized it as a 'disastrous massacre'. Both sides advocate different models to combat organized crime.
On October 28, 2025, a police operation in the Alemão and Penha complexes in Rio de Janeiro targeted the Comando Vermelho and ended with the death of at least 121 people, including four police officers. Governor Cláudio Castro, an ally of Jair Bolsonaro, described the action as a success in combating organized crime, minimizing civilian deaths and highlighting only the police losses. This stance gained popular support and political strength for Castro, a pre-candidate for the Senate.
Other right-wing governors, such as Tarcísio de Freitas, Ronaldo Caiado, and Romeu Zema, praised the initiative and announced the formation of the 'Consórcio do Paz', aimed at countering the federal government, accused of negligence in security. On the left, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delayed his response but condemned the operation as a 'massacre' and 'disastrous', advocating for police intelligence and respect for human rights. Lula argued that deaths are not an acceptable collateral effect, except in open confrontations.
In response, PT-led governments in Bahia and Piauí conducted operations against criminal factions with different outcomes: in Bahia, 37 arrests and only one death against the Comando Vermelho; in Piauí, action against PCC infiltration in the fuel market, with no mention of mass deaths. The debate highlights opposing models: the right bets on lethal interventions, while the left prioritizes efficiency without excessive violence. Despite claims of victory, crime rates remain high, and security continues to concern voters, according to polls.
Opinions in outlets like Folha criticize the right's application of 'narcoterrorism' concepts, equating factions to terrorists without ideological basis, and the left's view of crime as a class struggle, arguing that this diverts from effective solutions.