Brazilian president defends national development program

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday that the government-sponsored national Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) is for the benefit of the country, not for "electoral" purposes as voiced by opponents.

Criticism that the government is using PAC as an electoral tool is "verbal stupidity that lacks logics," Lula said.

The program is aimed at bringing welfare to the country, said the president, adding that he has approved investments of 4.6 billion U.S. dollars in the state of Sao Paulo, and 635 million dollars in Sao Paulo's capital city, which are governed by members of the opposition parties.

"To me it does not matter which party the mayor belongs to, or which party the governor belongs to. What matters is that the state has needs, the city has needs, and we have the money and we will carry out the projects," he said.

The program, launched in 2007, is aimed at boosting social and economic development all over the country. Its projects are still in operation this year, when the municipal elections are