Brasília, July 22, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Leaders allied to the Administration condemned the decision by judges from state, labor, and military courts to paralyze their activities in protest against the Social Security reform. Following a meeting with the head of the Presidential Advisory Staff, Minister José Dirceu, the leader of the government in the Chamber, Aldo Rebelo (PC do B - SP), said that "the government did not force the reform down the throat of any sector of society." He called for "negotiation and serenity" in handling discussions on the proposal with the magistrates. "The government is not guided by localized pressure from one or another segment of society. The government never wished to force its reform proposal down the throat of any social segment, and it has been negotiating with all sectors interested in this matter. Therefore, we see no reason to lose serenity at a moment in which the reform is in the National Congress in its final stage of negotiation and definition," Rebelo emphasized.

Deputy Rebelo said that the government is willing to dialogue with the magistrates, and he called once again for approval of the Social Security reform, because it is "a fundamental condition for the resumption of growth and the generation of jobs and income distribution." (DAS)