BRASÍLIA DAILY — 20 MARCH 2026
Lula Confirms DURIGAN as Finance Minister, Announces Re-Election Bid; Mendes Annuls Crime CPI Arleen Secrecy Break; VORCARO Transferred to PF for Delação Talks; Lula Presses States to Zero Diesel ICMS as Truckers Eye Strike
Lula Announces 2026 Reelection Bid, Criticizes UN Security Council Over Iran War
President Lula da Silva confirmed his candidacy for reelection in 2026 at a São Bernardo do Campo rally, stating Geraldo Alckmin's vice slot remains open. He criticized the five permanent UN Security Council members for waging war instead of preserving peace, citing Iran conflict escalation.
Haddad Exits Finance Ministry; Durigan Sworn In as São Paulo Race Begins
Fernando Haddad formally left the Finance Ministry on March 20 to run for São Paulo governor against Tarcísio de Freitas; executive secretary Dario Durigan took the oath as new minister, with mandate to shield fiscal accounts in election year.
Vorcaro Transferred to PF Superintendency Under Mendonça Order, Signs Confidentiality Pact
Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro was moved by helicopter from federal penitentiary to PF Brasília headquarters by order of Justice André Mendonça; Vorcaro signed confidentiality agreement with PGR and PF, first formal step toward plea bargain.
CPMI Alleges Vorcaro Contacted STF Phone Number; Viana Demands Court Disclosure
CPMI do INSS president Carlos Viana sent two-day deadline letter to Supreme Court requesting identity of users of a functional STF phone number that contacted Vorcaro; Anatel confirmed the line belongs to the Court, Viana stated.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: President LULA confirmed 19 March that executive secretary Dario DURIGAN will succeed Fernando HADDAD as Finance Minister after the latter formally enters the São Paulo gubernatorial race, and announced his own intention to seek re-election in 2026 with the vice-presidential slot "open" to incumbent Geraldo ALCKMIN. STF Justice Gilmar MENDES annulled 19 March the Senate Crime CPI's 18 March quebra de sigilo of the Arleen Fund — sole investor Fabiano ZETTEL paid R$ 20 million to acquire Justice Dias TOFFOLI's family stake in Tayaá resort — calling the measure a procedural attempt to circumvent prior Court rulings. Ex-banqueiro Daniel VORCARO was transferred 19 March from the Penitenciária Federal to Polícia Federal Superintendência headquarters in Brasília after signing a confidentiality agreement — the first formal step toward a delação premiada — following a decision by STF Justice André MENDONÇA. LULA pressed 19 March for state governors to zero ICMS on diesel imports, offering to compensate half of revenue losses, as national diesel prices hit R$ 6.80 per liter — up 19% since 28 February — and truckers in multiple states moved toward strike authorization. END SUMMARY.
