São Paulo, January 26, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The new headquarters of the São Paulo municipal administration was inaugurated yesterday (25) afternoon. During a speech, Mayor Marta Suplicy emphasized that there has been a radical change in priorities during her administration, permitting "the implementation of projects that are not mere gloss, but real short, medium, and long-term changes in the quality of life of each and every resident of São Paulo."

She also underlined that the inauguration of the new City Hall "is one more proof that the city left the neglect and corrupt of other municipal administrations behind and defined its hope in the future." According to the mayor, the most difficult part of her administration in the first three years was to restore the credibility of the municipal government, "lost in 8 years of corruption, debt, and lack of commitment to its citizens."

The ceremony was attended by acting President José Alencar and the Ministers of Finance, Antônio Palocci; Justice, Márcio Tomaz Bastos; Labor, Ricardo Berzoini; Culture, Gilberto Gil; and the Secretariat of Government Communications, Luiz Gushiken. (DAS)