Agência Brasil

Brasília - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that the possibility of presidential reelection is not good for Brazil's development. "I haven't decided whether I will be a candidate. In principle, I was always opposed to reelection. I will only be a candidate if I can be sure that my second term will be better than the first. I think that reelection is not a good arrangement," he added.

The president made this declaration during the one thousandth edition of the "Live Circuit" ["Roda Viva"] program, produced by TV Cultura and aired yesterday (7) on public television. It was Lula's first collective interview on a television program since taking office as president.

Lula admitted that he has criticized the press on various occasions, but he insisted that he does not avoid the media. "I don't know whether there has ever been a president in the history of Brazil who made as many declarations as I do," he affirmed.

With respect to the integration of the São Francisco River with other Northeast river basins, he said that "construction will begin, whether it is a month from now or a year." And that "the government has a duty to offer water to over 12 million Brazilians." Mentioning the focuses of hoof and mouth disease in Brazilian herds, Lula pointed out that beef from cattle contaminated by the hoof and mouth virus is not harmful to humans. "Brazil must assume the responsibility of eliminating this disease from the country. The citizen who doesn't vaccinate should be punished for a while to learn to be responsible," he observed.

Lula also remarked that, since assuming the presidency, he has "never worked so hard." And that his international trips have helped improve the results of the trade balance.

Translation: David Silberstein