It is common for parliamentary committees of inquiry to become the theater of political clashes, focusing on the spotlight and public opinion, rather than on answers and solutions to the issues that sparked their call. Therefore, the position of the recently installed head of the Organized Crime Party, Senator Fabiano Contarato (PT-ES), was encouraging. In an interview with Globo, he said he was committed to the “technical” course of action, to prevent the CPI from acting as a platform aimed at elections.
The CPI Action Plan, prepared by Rapporteur Alessandro Vieira (MDB-SE), is substantive and addresses the fundamental issues in the fight against the criminal organizations that terrorize Brazil. Among them are the occupation of territory by drug traffickers and militias, money laundering, public sector corruption in the wake of criminal activity, and the sources of funding and tools available to the state to combat it effectively. Contarato was the right choice to head the CPI. He has experience as a delegate of the Espiritu Santo Civil Police and a professor of criminal law. Seen as an independent name in the Labor Party, he recognizes the difficulty of the left in dealing with public security, and will second him as running mate to Hamilton Mourao (R-RS), a retired general. They are not newbies to public safety.
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The CPI is bound to spark clashes between the government and the opposition. There are differences within the schedule in which the work will be conducted. Mourão and Vieira support the classification of criminal factions as terrorist groups, while Contarato opposes this, although he advocates tougher penalties and other amendments to legislation. Differences in opinion are part of democracy. The important thing is not to make it an excuse to fuel polarization driven by electoral logic.
The advance of organized crime is the responsibility of many governments, whose inaction has allowed criminal organizations to spread across the country while connecting with drug suppliers abroad and opening routes for their distribution in other countries. Business has grown and strengthened, and to confront it, adequate legislation and a well-defined state are needed at all federal levels. Several proposals are being processed in the Legislature aimed at expanding the state’s authority to confront crime. If done well, the CPI will be able to make relevant contributions to its improvement.
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“There is nothing more powerful than an idea when the time comes,” Contarato said in the interview. Several recent initiatives point to ways to rein in criminal groups. There are lessons to be learned from Operation Hidden Carbon against the Communist Party in São Paulo, and the incursion by Rio de Janeiro police against the Comando Vermelho in the Penha and Alemão complexes in Rio. It will be necessary to develop a strong and unified plan, capable of financially strangling the criminals, but also capable of reclaiming and occupying the territory they control, providing permanent public services and lifting the population out of the yoke of crime.
“It is time for the progressive camp to adopt this agenda, because it is nonpartisan,” Contarato said. “It cannot be limited to the right or those with a more conservative profile.” He’s right. The CPI will be a good test for Congress. Tangible results will determine whether people’s representatives are able to confront the challenges posed by organized crime.
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