Brasília,7/6/2004(Agência Brasil) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged his cabinet and parliamentary allies to be patient as the government attempts to do its job. "The art of government is the art of patience. We do not have the right to lose patience even in moments of great adversity," said the president.

Lula spoke at a ceremony commemorating 18 months of his administration, saying that the members of the government had to be careful not to get too anxious. "Sometimes a soccer player is so anxious he misses an easy goal, you know," said the president, who frequently uses soccer metaphors. Lula added that no one should expect his administration to do in such a short time what others were unable to do in decades.

Lula said that one achievement during his 18 months in government was the establishment of a healthy relationship between the executive and legislative branches, based on the public welfare rather than the quid pro quo wheeling and dealing of the past.

The president made it clear that he would make regular reports on the progress of government activities. He challenged his critics to compare the results of his government with any other.

Lula warned his ministers and congressional allies that discussion of public policy should not be limited to election seasons, pointing out that mid-term elections would take place this October, and presidential elections at the end of 2006.

He recalled the political cost of the debate on the minimum wage of US$85.90 (R$260), saying that the salary was so low because former administrations had allowed it to lose so much value. Lula said he was surprised to see allies of the Cardoso government support a bigger minimum salary after they spent eight years in power without allowing it to recover its purchasing power. "That is an example of when we need to keep calm. Now the fact is that the people know what is happening and can distinguish what is real and what is false... If anyone can recover the purchasing power of the Brazilian minimum wage it is this president," said Lula.

At the end of his speech, Lula urged all of the cabinet members to remain united in the effort to fulfill the commitments in his government program. "I am certain we will keep the campaign promises we made in order to be elected by the time we reach the end of our term of office," he said.

Repórter:Nelson Motta e Marcos Chagas
(Translator:Allen Bennett)