Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced a change in his long-held position, now supporting lowering the age of criminal responsibility for “heinous” crimes to 16, from the current 18. This reversal, revealed during a TV Globo interview on Thursday night, is viewed by many as a strategic move ahead of the upcoming presidential runoff election. Lula currently trails his opponent, far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, in the polls and faces a challenge to secure re-election. The decision to alter his stance on criminal responsibility is likely an attempt to appeal to voters concerned about rising crime rates in Brazil. This U-turn marks a significant shift for Lula, who previously opposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility. Analysts suggest this move is a desperate attempt to sway voters in the final stretch of the campaign.