Rio, 2/16/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - In a speech this weekend commemorating the 24th anniversary of the PT, at the Hotel Glória in Rio de Janeiro, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that the party has become a gold standard because of its history and does not have the luxury of making mistakes. "We do not have the right to make mistakes, we cannot fail," he said.

Lula added that ethical behavior and a squeaky clean image were PT registered trademarks. "You can be sure that we will do more than anyone ever imagined," he said, adding that a solid economy needed a solid political foundation, which was what the PT was building through a constant dialogue with those outside the party.

As for anti-PT demonstrations in front of the hotel, Lula called it "a virtue of living in the diversity of democracy." He recalled that for many years the PT protested outside hotels. And he promised that his government would treat those who protested against the PT better than other governments had treated PT protesters. (AB)