Brasília, June 24, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Social Security, Ricardo Berzoini, in a meeting on Monday (23) with the president of the Supreme Court (STF), Minister Maurício Corrêa, said that it is inadmissible to concede social security privileges to members of the Judiciary. Berzoini explained that magistrates are subject to Article 40 in the Constitution, which does not contemplate a system of special retirement for members of this category. Even so, the president of the STF said that he is confident that the Executive will yield on some items of the reform to satisfy the Judiciary. "The judges want to be excluded from the reform, and I believe that there are possibilities for us to make progress on this issue," Corrêa pointed out.

Berzoini reaffirmed that the federal government is willing to negotiate the proposal, so long as its essence remains unaltered. According to the Minister, the social security system produced so many inequalities that it has become essential to correct this situation, without exceptions. "Brazil needs a Social Security system that is fair and sustainable, and it ought to attain equity," he affirmed.

This was the first meeting between the Judicial and Executive branches since the Forum of Debates on Social Security and Judicial Reforms, on June 17, when judges met to refine their arguments and define the Judiciary's position with regard to the reforms. They criticized some of items included in the proposal, such as the elimination of retirement benefits equivalent to a full working salary and the elimination of equal status between workers and retirees. Another criticism has to do with the imposition of a limitation on judges' payments in the states to 75% of the salary received by a Minister of the STF.

With respect to the agenda presented by the Judiciary, Minister Berzoini said that it is up to the Executive to listen to it and to study the impact of any proposal to make changes in the reform. But he emphasized that the main objective of the reform is to reduce the deficit in social security and this does not leave room to meet demands.

Last year, the government spent R$ 39 billion to complete the payments owed to civil servants. The total cost comes to R$ 61 billion, annually, of which R$ 22 billion were financed by active workers in this sector. (DAS)