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In his first open-ended collective press interview since taking office two years and four months ago, President Lula responded today to 14 questions from journalists representing various media. He affirmed that the press is "a good medicine for the consolidation of democracy."
Lula recalled the importance of the media in monitoring government authorities at the federal, state, and municipal levels, and he said that he counts on journalists to inform him of the mistakes committed by his Administration.
"Without the press, democracy doesn't exist," Lula said, prior to referring to the years of military rule when the press in Brazil was submitted to advance censorship.
In his introductory remarks, the President suggested that he might have other press conferences in the future in the capital Brasília or in other Brazilian states.
"I know that I am indebted to several journalists and newspapers who ask for an exclusive interview. It's possible that the time to do this has now come. It will depend on adjusting our schedule."
The president also said that he doesn't know any politician who has not complained against the press, including himself:
"Deep down, the press is a good medicine to consolidate democracy in any country in the world and to monitor the public administration be it municipal, state or federal. As much as we don't like it, without the press we would not have democracy. In the historical moments that we didn't have it, we know the price we had to pay for this."
Agência Brasil
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