Address by the President of the Republic, Michel Temer, during ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue

I want, in the first place, to beg leave from the members of the panel to greet everyone in the person of the one who represents the institution celebrating its anniversary, which is Jorge Rachid. If you don't mind, I would like to salute everyone with this one salute.

I would like to say, from the get-go that I will not be able to indicate the numbers that were all mentioned here. But those are significant numbers, numbers that express an extraordinary advance in the 50 years of the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue. What was reported here by Mr. Rachid, reported by Justice Aloysio, also reported by Guardia, reveals exactly the extraordinary technological prosperity that has taken place over time.

And, by the way, I also want to register, Minister Aloysio, the opportunity for this meeting to take place in this space. Because Rachid, although he performs a role, let us say, that, in the eyes of most, is a very difficult one, he exercises it with such competence that he always reminds me of a diplomat. I have never heard from Mr. Rachid a word of aggression about any situation or any person. On the contrary, in the several meetings we had, what I always perceived is exactly... not only his technical competence. And, therefore, his presence in the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue represents what Mr. Guardia mentioned. It represents a highly technical body dedicated to public life, because, indisputably... because the State does not live on its own, but rather through the contribution of its inhabitants and its citizens, it is essential that there be a special body to collect the revenue that will be used to carry out State activities. And that's what Mr. Rachid does.

So Mr. Rachid, Justice Toffoli, Justice Eunício, Chief Justice Eunício, in addition to this extraordinary diplomatic aspect, it also reveals the extraordinary competence of all those who make up the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue. Therefore, I can say that the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue is synonymous with professionalism and competence in public administration. It is an institution that provides - and I will be repetitive here - but it provides invaluable services to Brazil and Brazilians. It is a decisive entity for the promotion of fiscal justice.

It is interesting... The word justice, how it permeates or must permeate, as Justice Toffoli said, all our activities. When you act justly, it means: you are applying the legal order properly. Because justice is not something ethereal, that comes out of nowhere. It arises from the legal order. And that is why I say that the truth is that the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue plays a leading role in the very functioning of the State. It is an efficient role, a collection role, that is essential, as I just mentioned, for the maintenance of public order, justice, transport services, education, healthcare and sanitation. And it is

actually a tax system, provided for in the constitutional text and legislation under it, which guarantees the means for us, other constituted authorities, to adequately fulfil our duties.

Therefore, I want to greet - and here we go to the number -, the more than 20 thousand Secretariat of Federal Revenue civil servants spread all over our vast territory, in the great urban centres and the country’s hinterlands. On our highways and borders, from north to south of the country. We must admit, it's not an easy task. Because many, many times, especially when I checked the issue of Brazilian borders, there they were - is it not true, members of the Armed Forces? - there were the members of the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue. Therefore, acting in the most complicated, difficult conditions, but gallantly and soberly exercising their functional roles, offering a daily example of dedication to public causes.

So, my friends, I want to say that celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue is also an opportunity to honour the valuable contributions of those who came before us. Incidentally, Secretary Rachid had the opportunity to mention this fact. The Secretariat of the Federal Revenue, I can say without fear of making mistakes, is a respected and admired body in Brazil and in the world thanks to the talent and vision of generations of civil servants, as mentioned by Mr. Rachid. It is thanks to the determination of men and women, that go above and beyond in carrying out their tasks and routines, have left over time a legacy of constant institutional improvement.

So, in very brief words, what I want is to once more salute the Secretariat of the Federal Revenue for its 50th anniversary. I want, naturally, to congratulate Mr. Rachid, and, sequentially, Minister Guardia, because after all he is in a very close connection with the Minister of Finance, and to greet all who have dedicated themselves to this arduous but extremely productive task for our country.

Congratulations to all of you, Rachid.