Politics · Brazil · 3 hrs ago
São Paulo plans another vote to rename its municipal guard
São Paulo plans another vote on renaming its municipal guard as Municipal Police, Mayor Ricardo Nunes said.
The city’s Metropolitan Civil Guard has about 7,500 agents.
A similar name change won city council approval in 2025, but a court suspended it days later after legal challenges.
The Senate has now approved a constitutional security amendment that allows municipalities to create Municipal Police, subject to criteria in the amendment.
The change would recognise the guard’s existing work, according to the city government, and would not itself give the force investigative powers.
The proposal still needs a new city council vote, and the constitutional amendment is due to be promulgated.
São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes says the city will hold another vote on renaming the Metropolitan Civil Guard the Municipal Police.
The vote is planned after the Senate approved a public security constitutional amendment that allows municipalities to create municipal police forces.
The city says the name change would recognize the work of its 7,500 security agents.
The City Council approved the name change in March 2025, but a court suspended it days later following legal challenges.
The Senate-approved amendment also provides for the inclusion of Brazil’s Unified Public Security System in the Constitution.
- Who
- São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes and the city government are seeking the change. The Metropolitan Civil Guard has about 7,500 agents.
- What
- The city plans another City Council vote on changing the guard’s name to Municipal Police.
- When
- After the Senate approved the public security amendment on Tuesday, November 3. A date for the new vote was not stated.
- Where
- São Paulo, Brazil.
- Why
- The city says the change would recognize the agents’ work. The Senate-approved amendment allows municipalities to create municipal police forces if they meet constitutional criteria.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Brazil’s Supreme Court recognized that municipal guards can conduct overt and community policing and act against threats to people, property and municipal services.
São Paulo’s City Council approved the proposed name change in a second and final vote, with 43 votes in favor and 10 against.
A São Paulo court suspended the change following legal challenges.
The Senate approved the public security constitutional amendment in two rounds.
Mayor Ricardo Nunes confirmed that the city would hold another City Council vote on the name change after the amendment’s approval.
- Proposed new name
- Municipal Police
- Current name
- Metropolitan Civil Guard
- Number of agents
- About 7,500
- City Council vote in March 2025
- 43 in favor; 10 against
- Senate approval of security amendment
- November 3, 2026
What people are saying
We will now vote in the City Council on changing the name to Municipal Police.
The current administration reiterates that changing the Metropolitan Civil Guard to Municipal Police is recognition of the responsible and tireless police work already carried out by the 7,500 security agents of the city government in combating crime.