Brasília, April 19, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Protests are legitimate in a democratic country, but it is important for people not to lose a sense of responsibility, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said today in an interview on the "Breakfast with the President" radio broadcast. President Lula assured that agrarian reform in Brazil will be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.

The President also referred to the strike by some segments of the civil service that are demanding higher salaries. According to Lula, marches, protests, and strikes represent societal conquests and signify the exercise of democracy. He pointed out that it is important for leaders to be sensitive enough to understand that social problems in Brazil represent a debt to the population. For the President, it is normal that civil servants want to receive a salary readjustment now, "because, among other things, people see my government and the PT's victory as a chance for them to let themselves go to a greater extent in their exercise of democracy and demand-making."

In his "Breakfast with the President" interview, Lula also explained that reorganizing a country's economy makes it difficult to satisfy many demands. "The union leader knows that when we are concerned with controlling inflation, regaining credibility, and resuming economic growth, it does not do to make an absurd request."

Translator: David Silberstein