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In an address to the nation, prior to the 11th meeting of the full Cabinet in this Administration, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said that he feels betrayed and indignant over the situation the country is currently undergoing.
"I want to say with complete frankness that I feel betrayed by unacceptable practices, of which I was never aware. I am indignant over the revelations that appear every day and shock the country," the President declared.
Lula said that he is not ashamed to tell the Brazilian people that the PT and the Administration must beg forgiveness for their mistakes.
"The PT has to ask for forgiveness. The Administration has to ask for forgiveness where it erred, because the Brazilian people, who have hope, who believe in Brazil, and who dream of a Brazil with a strong economy, with economic growth and income distribution, cannot be at all satisfied with the situation that our country is undergoing," he said.
Lula went on to ask the population not to lose hope. "I know that you are angry, and I am surely just as or more indignant than any other Brazilian. We shall manage to keep Brazil moving ahead, marching towards development, growing prosperity, and income distribution. I am certain I can count on the Brazilian people," he proclaimed.
Lula affirmed that, if it were in his grasp, he would have already identified and punished the individuals responsible for the situation the country is experiencing. "Because I am the chief commander of this nation, I have an obligation to look out for the rule of law."
President Lula recalled the era when the Workers' Party was founded. "In 1980, at the start of redemocratization, I decided to create a new party that would work to change political behavior, moralize it, and gradually clean up the electoral dispute in our country.
"I helped to create this party, and, as you all know, I lost three presidential elections and won a fourth, always remaining loyal to these ideals. As loyal as I am today."
Lula asserted that it is the duty of the government, the opposition, entrepreneurs, workers, and the entire society not to allow the political crisis to affect the Brazilian economy and the creation of jobs or to hamper the continuity of social programs. "We must roll up our sleeves and redouble our efforts."
President Lula stressed Brazil's economic indices and affirmed that the government managed to establish an atmosphere favorable to the resumption of investments.
"In 30 months we have already created 3 million, 135 thousand new formal jobs," he said, explaining that "this means 104 thousand new jobs each month. Twelve times more than the average in the 1990's. To say nothing of jobs in the informal market and family farming."
Today President Lula is coordinating the first Cabinet meeting with his new team of ministers. This is the third Cabinet meeting this year and the 11th since the Administration took office.
During the meeting, which will go until 7 pm, a balance sheet of the government's activities should be drawn up, and goals for the coming months should be discussed.
Agência Brasil
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