The Federal Police of Brazil released a report on Wednesday indicating that investigative actions led by Justice Minister André Mendonça show a marked asymmetry toward political figures, and that Senator Davi Alcolumbre, former Senate President, is a "likely strategic target" of these operations.
Report details and political backdrop
The 31‑page document, obtained by the news portal G1, analyses dozens of cases opened by the ministry's anti‑corruption unit since the start of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s second term. It notes that while dozens of politicians were scrutinised, the intensity and resources allocated to cases involving Alcolumbre and his allies were disproportionately high, suggesting a possible use of law‑enforcement tools for political ends.
Alcolumbre, a senator from the northern state of Amapá and a key figure in the centrist MDB party, served as President of the Senate from 2019 to 2021. Although no longer in that top post, he remains influential in the upper house and is seen by the report as a potential obstacle to the current administration’s legislative agenda.
Reactions and implications
Federal Police officials declined to comment on the report’s findings, citing internal policy, but the document itself stresses that the observed asymmetry could “undermine the impartiality of the police" and “fuel public distrust in the justice system.”
"Alcolumbre is identified as a probable strategic target in the current investigative framework," the G1 report quotes the Federal Police analysis.
Justice Minister André Mendonça, who previously served as Attorney General under former President Jair Bolsonaro, has not publicly responded to the allegations. Likewise, Alcolumbre has not issued a statement, and his office did not return requests for comment.
The report arrives amid a broader debate over the role of Brazil’s security institutions in a highly polarised political environment. President Lula’s government has faced criticism from opposition lawmakers who accuse it of weaponising the police against right‑wing opponents, while supporters argue that the investigations are necessary to curb corruption that has long plagued the country’s political class.
International observers have noted that Brazil’s handling of such investigations will be closely watched ahead of the 2026 general elections, where the balance of power in Congress could shift dramatically. The United Nations’ office on drug and crime policy has previously warned that perceived politicisation of law‑enforcement can erode democratic norms.
Analysts say the Federal Police’s internal assessment, even without immediate legal consequences, could prompt a review of investigative protocols and may lead to parliamentary hearings on the independence of the judiciary. The episode underscores the delicate interplay between Brazil’s justice system and its fractious political arena, a dynamic that continues to shape public confidence in democratic institutions.
