Brasília, January 9, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Finance, Antônio Palocci, received a visit yesterday (8) from Professor Philippe van Parijs, Professor of Economics and Social Ethics at the Catholic University of Louvain and secretary of the European Basic Income Network, in the company of Senator Eduardo Suplicy. The European experience with the concession of a basic income to its citizens was discussed at the meeting. For the professor, it is very important to discuss the experiences of other countries, even though he believes each country must have its own model. Parijs thinks that the concession of resources should seek a general system that benefits a large part of the population in each locale.

Senator Suplicy informed that one of the themes discussed with Minister Palocci was the consensus that the institution of a basic income in Brazil should begin in 2005, so as not to run afoul of the Law of Fiscal Responsibility. The matter has already received support from all Congressional party leaders. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was scheduled to ratify the Brazilian Citizens' Basic Income Law at 3:15 P.M. in the Planalto Palace. (DAS)