WorldPolitics

Brazil’s Lula says he now backs lowering age of criminal responsibility to 16

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 16/10/2026, 17:09:25 UTC.

Briefings

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reversed his long-standing policy by announcing support for lowering the age of criminal responsibility for heinous crimes from 18 to 16. This U-turn occurred during a Thursday night interview with TV Globo, occurring just over a week before the presidential runoff against rival Flávio Bolsonaro, who remains slightly ahead at the polls. The decision is widely viewed as an electoral gambit to secure votes in a tight race.

Key points

• President Lula da Silva announced support for lowering the age of criminal responsibility for heinous crimes from 18 to 16 during a Thursday night interview with TV Globo.
• This reversal occurred just over a week before the presidential runoff against rival Flávio Bolsonaro, who remains slightly ahead at the polls.

Context

Brazil's presidential runoff is a critical election where the incumbent faces an uphill battle to overturn the first-round victory of his opponent, the far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who remains slightly ahead at the polls.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to a single interview announcement without broader policy context or historical data on previous reversals.

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