It was March 12: our last handshake. Frank and supported: almost too much. As for a farewell. That day, the coronavirus arrives in Brazil and Paulo Skaf, president of the Federation of Industries of Sao Paulo (Fiesp), receives us in his offices, smiling but worried. ” It will rock, he shivers. We’re going to go through an unpredictable and delicate moment. All you have to do is pray … “
Economic crises, this man has yet seen others. Unbeatable boss of the Fiesp since 2004, “Skaf” is a 64-year-old escogriffe, with a long aquiline nose and brown plumage, already well bald, dominating his megalopolis like an eagle from his nest, perched at 14e floor of the institution’s headquarters: Mayan pyramid of concrete and glass, placed on the Paulista, this 5e avenue du Brésil, where banks, museums and places of power are aligned.
Tropical Berlusconi airs
It did not take less to welcome the “boss of bosses” of the State of Sao Paulo. This quasi-vice-minister of the economy in his country represents the interests of 130,000 industries and 131 unions in a region, the economic heart of Latin America, populated like Argentina, rich like Ireland or Israel, alone generating a third of Brazil’s GDP and industrial production.
In mid-March, the situation is serious, but our host gives the change. Seducing is his thing in “Paulo”. With his bright smile and hair implants, he sometimes looks like a tropical Berlusconi. For the French journalist, we’re going all out: pat on the back, chocolates, croissants, “special” green tea with ginger, sports swimsuit as a gift… sometimes almost embarrassing by trying too hard to put you at ease.
Skaf’s new goal? He is pictured on his desk: Jair Bolsonaro, of course, to whom the “boss” has been rolling out the red carpet for two years and opening his address book wide. Last year, the president decorated him with the very official “ industrial merit order “Then created a” higher council », Bringing together fifty of the country’s biggest bosses. In 2019, Fiesp received on 40 different occasions the visit of 10 ministers and 14 secretaries of state, becoming, according to critics, a real ” advanced base From the far right in Sao Paulo.
” This house supports the government because its agenda is ours! Our vision of the world is liberal and the key word is adaptation ”, assumes the “boss of bosses”, who says he has “Very good institutional relations, but not intimate” with the far-right president. ” Paulo Skaf has already obtained a job in my government: that of spokesperson! “, for his part went so far as to congratulate a grateful Bolsonaro, in February.
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