Flávio Bolsonaro Says Lula Looks Like PCC Boss – June 8, 2026 – Politics

Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) said on Monday, June 8, that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva appears to “be the boss of the PCC,” referring to the country’s largest criminal gang, because of Lula’s opposition to the U.S. government’s decision to classify the São Paulo-based PCC and Rio de Janeiro’s Comando Vermelho as terrorist organizations. Flávio made the remarks during a lunch event with Grupo Voto, a businesswomen’s organization, at the Palácio Tangará hotel in São Paulo’s south zone. He argued that the classification could help dismantle what he called a “parallel power” and said there should be zero tolerance and more unity against organized crime.

In his speech, Flávio placed strong emphasis on public security and the economy. He blamed the feeling of insecurity in Brazilian cities on administrations led by the Workers’ Party (PT) and defended changes to the prison system so violent offenders remain incarcerated longer. He said PT governments followed a path of reducing imprisonment and claimed this contributed to impunity and the rise in street violence. He added that many Brazilians live in fear because they cannot afford armored cars, private security, or gated communities.

The senator criticized territorial control by criminal factions across Brazil, specifically citing the PCC and Comando Vermelho, but did not mention militias, which also dominate areas in urban peripheries, especially in Rio de Janeiro, his home state.

The federal government rejects the U.S. classification of the gangs as terrorist groups, saying such a move could open the door to U.S. military actions that would threaten Brazilian sovereignty. Lula responded by calling Flávio a “shameless traitor to the homeland,” after the senator traveled to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio two days before the American announcement.

Speaking to the business audience, Flávio also made campaign-style promises. He said he would delay the implementation of the tax reform by at least one year, even though it is currently scheduled to take effect in 2027, and pledged to privatize the state-run postal service, Correios. However, he avoided naming possible candidates to lead the Finance Ministry.

The event drew about 180 people, almost all women. Grupo Voto promotes courses and events for businesswomen interested in politics and in defending economic freedom. According to the organization, governors Romeu Zema and Ronaldo Caiado have already agreed to participate in similar events on future dates, and President Lula was also invited.

At the end of the meeting, Flávio did not speak to reporters and did not address the Master case. He also declined to comment on a decision by the president of Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court, Justice Kassio Nunes Marques, who on Monday ordered the removal of an Atlas/Bloomberg election poll that showed Flávio’s support falling by six percentage points in a hypothetical second-round race against Lula.