Brasília, March 26, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Yesterday (25), three Brazilian political parties, the Brazilian Social Democrat Party (PSDB), the Liberal Front Party (PFL), and the Democratic Labor Party (PDT), made official their opposition front to the government of Brazil, with the creation of a permanent forum of consultations to formulate effective measures to fight corruption and restore employment. In a note released by the parties, the group says that the moment "is one of crisis" and that it is now up to the opposition to overcome party differences in order to act "not against the government, but in favor of the country."

The document, entitled "Union for ethics and employment," says that political parties and organizations from civil society join "in an appeal on behalf of Brazil, in light of the wave of frustration that is spreading through the country."

According to the president of the PSDB, José Serra, Brazil is in need of a direction, and the forum is not intended to create additional difficulties for the country. Serra observed that unemployment in São Paulo is the highest since 1985 and that there was a drop in real income and cuts in essential public expenditures, as, for example, in the program to eliminate child labor, which is being deactivated.

Translator: David Silberstein