Ana Paula Marra
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília – Brazil still does not have a 2006 budget (Orçamento da União de 2006) as a draft budget bill remains without a Congressional vote. Last week the government announced it was emitting temproary measures (medidas provisorios) MPs) to gain access to funding.

The leader of the PSDB in the Senate, Arthur Virgílio (AM), has come out strongly against the use by the government of temporary measures for state-run enterprise spending and the financing of government programs.

Virgilio denied that the opposition was holding up a vote on the budget. "We are anxiously waiting for the vote. The opposition is not to blame for the delay. That must be clear," said the senator.

Translation: Allen Bennett