MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

President Lula launches reelection bid

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reelection bid was officially launched this week by his closest advisor and most influential minister, Jose Dirceu head of Planalto Palace (Government House).

The announcement comes 19 months before the presidential election and when the most radical groups of Mr. Lula da Silva's Workers Party have declared war on the current economic policy of this administration.

"Our challenge is not only to conclude 2005 but advance in 2006 with the reelection of President Lula da Silva", said Mr. Dirceu in one of the many celebrations of the Workers Party 25th anniversary.

On justifying another four years for President Lula Mr. Dirceu argued that "we're committed to our "social revolution" and "national development program", because growth with people living in misery is not a development program and has no future".

Mr. Dirceu also stated that the 2006 presidential campaign had already taken off pushed by Liberal Front Party candidate and Rio do Janeiro mayor Cesar Maia, and Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckim, who is a pre candidate for the Brazilian Social Democrats, former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso party.

However Mr. Lula da Silva bid must attract centre votes, particularly from the PMDB, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, which has the largest representation in the Senate and second in Deputies. With this in mind Mr. Lula da Silva has been working on a cabinet reform and reshuffle to help him pass several pending important bills. This means incorporating a greater number of PMDB ministers, and from the right wing Progressive Party which holds the key post of president of the Lower House which decides the legislative agenda. But the long awaited cabinet reshuffle so far remains stagnant and a promise, while the radical wing of Mr. Lula's party has regrouped in the Parliamentary Leftwing Block promising a full pitch battle against the orthodox economic and financial policies of Economy Minister Antonio Palloci and Central Bank president Henrique Meirelles.

The current economy policy "is more orthodox than that of previous President Cardoso" and the Lula administration is after a "coalition with right wing parties that makes it a hostage of even more conservative policies supported by a greater participation in the cabinet", claim the dissidents.

An ascetic release was distributed Monday in Planalto Palace stating that "President Lula da Silva and according to his attributions, has decided to end discussions on ministerial reform".