BRASÍLIA DAILY — 27 MARCH 2026
STF Votes 8-2 to Kill INSS Fraud Probe by Saturday; Douglas Ruas Wins Alerj Presidency to Assume Rio Governorship; Italy Court Authorizes Zambelli Extradition for 15-Year STF Term
CPMI do INSS Reports Friday Deadline After Supreme Court Rejection
Supreme Court voted 8-2 to block extension of congressional inquiry into INSS fraud, rejecting Justice Mendonça's liminar; committee president Carlos Viana plans to read final report Friday.
Italy Court Authorizes Zambelli Extradition to Brazil for 15-Year Term
Rome Court of Appeal approved extradition of former congresswoman Carla Zambelli, jailed since July 2025, to serve two Supreme Court convictions totaling over 15 years for hacking judiciary and forgery.
Lula Instructs Finance Minister to Address Family Debt Crisis
President ordered Minister Durigan to present solutions for household debt alongside financial education campaigns, acknowledging debt problem despite employment growth and economic expansion.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: The STF voted 8 to 2 on 26 March to overturn Justice André MENDONÇA's liminar extending the CPMI do INSS, forcing the commission to conclude work by 28 March after CPMI President Senator Carlos VIANA (Podemos-MG) unilaterally declared a 120-day extension hours before the Plenário convened — Justice Alexandre de MORAES led the majority rejecting the prorrogation as a violation of legislative autonomy, criticizing the 24 March leak of Justice VORCARO's messages as "criminoso" conduct. The Rio de Janeiro state legislature elected 26 March Deputy Douglas RUAS (PL) as Alerj president with 45 votes, placing him next in succession to assume the interim governorship after the TSE cassation of former Assembly President Rodrigo BACELLAR — the opposition boycotted the session with 22 deputies absent. Italy's Court of Appeal in Rome authorized 26 March the extradition of former Congresswoman Carla ZAMBELLI to serve two STF convictions totaling more than 15 years — one for hacking judiciary systems and forging an arrest warrant against a justice, the other for defaming President LULA — with final approval pending from the Italian government. VIANA told reporters he will present the CPMI's final report for a vote on 27 March. END SUMMARY.
