BRASÍLIA DAILY — 19 MARCH 2026
Copom Cuts Selic 25 bps to 14.75% in First Easing Move in Two Years as Iran War Restrains Pace; Haddad Proposes Federal Co-Funding of State Diesel ICMS Waiver; Senate Crime CPI Breaks Sigilo of Toffoli-Linked Resort Fund
Senate CPI Breaks Bank Secrecy of Fund That Bought STF Justice Toffoli Family Resort
Organized crime CPI approved breaking secrecy of Arleen Fund, which paid R$20M for Justice Dias Toffoli family stake in Tayaá resort; sole investor is Banco Master founder's brother-in-law.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: The Banco Central do Brasil reduced the Selic benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 14.75% on 18 March in a unanimous COPOM decision — the first cut since June 2025 — but signaled heightened caution due to Iran war-linked oil supply shocks and U.S. policy uncertainties. Finance Minister Fernando HADDAD presented 18 March a proposal for states to zero ICMS on diesel with the Union covering 50% of lost revenue, responding to trucker strike threats as Brent crude exceeded $107 per barrel. The Senate CPI do Crime Organizado approved 18 March the quebra de sigilo of the Arleen Fund — sole investor Fabiano ZETTEL (Daniel VORCARO's brother-in-law) paid R$ 20 million ($3.4 million) to acquire STF Justice Dias TOFFOLI's family stake in Tayaá resort — while rejecting PL president Valdemar da COSTA NETO's summons. President LULA signed three decrees 18 March implementing the Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents, creating a Polícia Federal-led Centro Nacional de Proteção à Criança e ao Adolescente to centralize platform-generated crime reports. END SUMMARY.
