Brasília, June 25, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - On Tuesday (24), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva gave another sign that the high interest rates that are currently charged in the country will be lowered to less than two-digit figures during his Administration. Referring to interest rates charged for loans, Lula said that the Brazilian population cannot continue paying "rip-off" rates such as those that credit companies are charging at present. "Nowadays, someone who needs to borrow R$ 200.00 from one of these companies that advertises on the television will pay 332% in interest at the end of the year. We want to lend this money at 2% for the person to be able to make purchases, including food, reducing the credit from stores," Lula emphasized.
In a speech at the National Creative Teaching Contest awards ceremony, at the headquarters of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), the President also used the opportunity to reiterate that in the next four years Brazil will witness the "spectacle of growth" all across the country. Aware of the difficulties he is facing to make Brazil grow, the President let off steam. He assured that no one will get in the way of his determination or diminish his faith in the transformation of the country. "Be sure that there isn't rain, frost, earthquakes, the National Congress, or the Judiciary. Only God can prevent us from making this country occupy the outstanding position that it should never have stopped occupying," he emphasized.
For the President, some members of the Judiciary and the National Congress have been questioning some items in the tax and social security reforms proposed by the federal government and, with this, can retard the transformation of the country. The reforms are the government's chief tactic to balance public accounts and get the resumption of growth underway. "We are aware of the difficulties, but we also know that, if determination is lacking, I would almost say an effort of abnegation on everybody's part, we will not achieve our goals," he said.
The President's criticisms included his predecessors. Lula underscored the fact that, in recent years, Brazil was unable to change its image abroad of a "third world" country. In an implicit reference to ex-President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Lula said that, in only six months since taking office, he has been able to change international policy, whereas "many of those who studied all their lives were not able to do so."
Even though he is intent on changing the country's foreign policy, Lula wants to assure that programs begun by previous Administrations which continue to produce good results will be maintained. The President cited the example of the Northeast Development Superintendency (Sudene), abolished two years ago, when it was was responsible for channeling 60% of the sales tax (ICMS) to the region. "In Brazil a bunch of things were terminated without putting something else in their place. This isn't possible. Brazil needs to understand that the country is not ours. We govern the country for just so long," he affirmed. (DAS)
