São Paulo, February 17, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Finance, Antônio Palocci, said yesterday (16) that all political parties and segments concerned with the structural reforms need to build a minimal consensus to effectuate the changes. According to the Minister, there are also questions related to the institutional framework of the State, such as the autonomy of the Central Bank and the bankruptcy law, that involve the creation of instruments that can intervene rapidly and positively on behalf of healthy development of the economy and bank spreads.

He explained that, often, the prime interest rate (Selic) is discussed, without cognizance of the fact that interest rates on loans for production or to the consumer are "extremely high." For this reason, he emphasized, "we are working on a set of legal mechanisms to improve the country's credit structure, thereby aiding the economy from the perspective of production and the citizen." (DAS)