Congressmen ask for reforms in 20th anniversary of the Constitution

In a solemn session attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the National Congress celebrated, on Wednesday (5), the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Brazilian Constitution, in October 5, 1988. Senator Garibaldi Alves, who presided over the session, defended the approval of political and Judiciary reforms.
Several members from the civil society, military and ecclesiastical authorities attended the homage. Beside Garibaldi Alves sat president Lula, the vice-president of the Republic, José Alencar; the president of the Federal Supreme Court, minister Gilmar Mendes; the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arlindo Chinaglia; the 2nd vice-president of the Chamber, Inocêncio Oliveira, and the 1st secretary of that House, Osmar Serraglio.
Garibaldi Alves, speaking after Lula, defended the adoption of changes in the promulgation of provisional measures and said to the president of the Supreme Court, Gilmar Mendes, that he feels sorry that this court sometimes tries to legislate, a role that was specifically designed for the Congress. President Lula, in his pronouncement, affirmed that the Constitution is not perfect because, ultimately, all men and politicians are imperfect. Gilmar Mendes said that the Constitution has been protecting democracy for the last 20 years.

Senator Efraim Morais (DEM-PB) reflected on the history of Brazilian Constitutions starting from 1891 and said that the Constitution of 1988 has been criticized by all governments since its promulgation. He highlighted that it is necessary to promote a larger reform in the economic and financial sectors and in the organization of the state.
- It is not casual that the points considered critical in that document are exactly the ones regarding the chapters of the Economic and Financial Order and of the Organization of the State - Efraim said.
According to the senator, those were the sectors where the transformations originated from the end of Cold War were most present. At that time, said Efraim, the role of the state all over the world started to be discussed, and also its omnipresence in the economic life, its costs and effectiveness. (Agência Senado)