Ana Paula Marra
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - On Tuesday (28), during a ceremony to install new members of the Council of the Republic, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that, based on his faith in the Brazil's future, he hopes he won't need to summon them to resolve any emergency situation in the country.. "There is no room for a crisis in Brazil in 2005," he affirmed. According to Lula, Brazil exceeded all the expectations ventilated at the beginning of this year, and 2005 will be an even better.

According to the Federal Constitution, it is the duty of the Council of the Republic, a high-level advisory body to the Presidency, to provide assistance concerning matters involving the country's stability, such as wars and situations of risk.

The Council of the Republic is presided by the President of the Republic, and its permanent membership is composed of the Vice-President, the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the Minister of Justice, and six native-born Brazilian citizens over 35 years old.

Translation: David Silberstein