BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) -- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asked for opposition support on Monday to overhaul a political system vulnerable to corruption and said he would not seek a third term in 2010.
In the more than six months since Lula was re-elected on October 30, he has been able to negotiate an 11-party alliance that has a majority in both houses of Congress.
But disagreement on political reform within the alliance has forced him to seek opposition support for proposals to limit lawmakers' ability to switch parties and tighten campaign financing rules.
Politicians in Brazil often switch political parties for short-term electoral gains, making it difficult to forge lasting governing alliances.
"We now have to talk with the opposition," the former union leader said on his weekly radio address. "We all need to work to recover credibility in the political institutions, especially political parties."
Lula had pledged political reform last year after his own ruling Workers' Party admitted using illicit campaign funds in 2002. The party was also accused of bribing legislators to achieve a majority in Congress.
Lula played down opposition concerns on Monday that he wanted to reform the Constitution to allow him to run for a third term in 2010.
"I have nothing to run for in 2010. When the president is no longer focused on a presidential election, it's much easier to govern a country," Lula said.
Lula met with Tasso Jereissati, head of the opposition Brazilian Social Democracy Party, or PSDB, last week to discuss political reform. He made several concessions to the PSDB, including giving the go-ahead for a steel plant in Jereissati's home state, the PSDB chief said.
In the more than six months since Lula was re-elected on October 30, he has been able to negotiate an 11-party alliance that has a majority in both houses of Congress.
But disagreement on political reform within the alliance has forced him to seek opposition support for proposals to limit lawmakers' ability to switch parties and tighten campaign financing rules.
Politicians in Brazil often switch political parties for short-term electoral gains, making it difficult to forge lasting governing alliances.
"We now have to talk with the opposition," the former union leader said on his weekly radio address. "We all need to work to recover credibility in the political institutions, especially political parties."
Lula had pledged political reform last year after his own ruling Workers' Party admitted using illicit campaign funds in 2002. The party was also accused of bribing legislators to achieve a majority in Congress.
Lula played down opposition concerns on Monday that he wanted to reform the Constitution to allow him to run for a third term in 2010.
"I have nothing to run for in 2010. When the president is no longer focused on a presidential election, it's much easier to govern a country," Lula said.
Lula met with Tasso Jereissati, head of the opposition Brazilian Social Democracy Party, or PSDB, last week to discuss political reform. He made several concessions to the PSDB, including giving the go-ahead for a steel plant in Jereissati's home state, the PSDB chief said.
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