Pedro Guimarães leaves the presidency of Caixa after being accused of sexual harassment

The president of Caixa Econômica, Pedro Guimarães, resigned this Wednesday (29), after being accused of sexual harassment by female employees. His departure from the government was confirmed in an open letter published on his social media.

In place of Guimarães, enters Daniella Marques, right-hand man of Paulo Guedes (Economy) and current secretary of Productivity and Competitiveness of the portfolio. The exchange was made official in the Official Gazette earlier this Wednesday night.

In the letter, Guimarães denies the accusations and says he is the target of “political rancor in an election year”.

“It is with the same purpose of collaboration that I have to step aside at this moment so as not to weaken the collection of achievements that do not belong to me personally, it belongs to the entire team that valiantly belongs to Caixa and also to the support of all the hours I have always received. of the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro”, he says.

The executive also said that he had always been committed to “fighting all forms of harassment, repelling any and all forms of violence, in any of its possible configurations”.

The now ex-president of Caixa even participated in a bank event in the morning about the Safra Plan. His presence displeased members of the government, who sought to reduce friction with the accusations. Caixa did not comment on the case.

In the afternoon, a ceremony on the same theme took place at the Planalto Palace. This time, with the participation of Daniella, which had not yet been announced. Bolsonaro did not comment on the allegations.

Interlocutors at Palácio do Planalto said that Guimarães’s maintenance at the head of Caixa Econômica Federal became unsustainable after the cases surfaced.

An investigation into the complaints is being processed by the Attorney General’s Office in the Federal District. The case was revealed by the website Metrópoles on Tuesday (28). That same night, Guimarães went to Palácio da Alvorada, the president’s residence, to have a conversation with Bolsonaro.

Reports report unwanted touches, inappropriate invitations, among other things. THE Sheetan employee reported being pulled by the neck and being in shock after the episode.

According to her, the harassment of Pedro Guimarães happened in front of everyone, inside and outside the institution. Behind the scenes, government officials talk about sexual and moral harassment. There are also reports of swearing at employees.

The episode is especially delicate for the government, because it takes place amid the chief executive’s attempt to improve the image among the female public, a segment of the electorate in which it registers one of the worst rates of voter intention.

Despite this, members of Bolsonaro’s campaign downplayed the impact that the allegations against Guimarães have on the reelection project. They point out that the exchange would have been made quickly, despite the president’s silence on the matter.

The president of Caixa is one of the names closest to the president in government. He is in office by appointment of the Minister of Economy, Paulo Guedes, and has gained the trust of the Chief Executive throughout his term. The bank also gained prominence for the operationalization of emergency aid and Auxílio Brasil, the government’s main social programs.

Guimarães even put himself in the race for the vice seat on Bolsonaro’s ticket, who will run for reelection this year. He was also considered as Guedes’s replacement in moments of crisis in his godfather’s portfolio in the government. He approached the president and his family for having a worldview similar to that of the Bolsonaro family.

This became clear, for example, when the STF (Federal Supreme Court) ordered the government to release the video of the ministerial meeting in which former minister Sergio Moro claimed that Bolsonaro’s interference in the Federal Police would be proven.

At the meeting, which took place at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Guimarães criticized social isolation, which was recommended by the consensus of the Brazilian and world scientific unit.

He criticized the fact that, at the time, employees were working from home. “Everyone is at home office. What the hell is this?”, he said. He also called the pandemic “mass hysteria”.

The proximity was made explicit in several public events and in the president’s weekly lives – he was one of the most frequent participants in Bolsonaro’s live broadcasts on social media.

In another episode, Guimarães acted directly to prevent Fiesp from publishing a manifesto in which he would show concern about the escalation of the crisis between the Powers amid Bolsonaro’s coup threats on the eve of September 7 last year.

READ THE ENTIRE LETTER BY PEDRO GUIMARÃES

To the Brazilian population and, in particular, to CAIXA employees and customers:

From an avalanche of news and misinformation, my wife, my two children, my 18-year marriage and I have been hit with several accusations made before even a modicum of defense can be put forward. It is a cruel, unfair, unequal situation that will be corrected at the right time with the force of truth.

The existence of a confidential investigation was initiated at the Federal Public Ministry, with the aim of investigating complaints of cases of sexual harassment, in which I would supposedly be investigated. Faced with the content of the personal, serious accusations that directly affect my image, in addition to that of my family, I come to the public to express my opinion.

Over the last few years, since the assumption of the Presidency of CAIXA, I have dedicated myself to the development of a management work that strives for the guarantee of gender equality, having as one of its main pillars the recognition of the relevance of female leadership in all company levels, seeking to develop respectful relationships in the work environment and through meritocracy.

As a direct result, in addition to the many awards received, CAIXA was certified in the 6th edition of the Pro-Equity of Gender and Race Program, from the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights (MMFDH), in addition to having received the seal of Best Company to Work for in 2021 – Great Place To Work®️, for demanding from its agents and employees, at all levels, the observance of the pillars of Credibility, Respect, Impartiality and Pride.

These are just some of the important achievements made in this work, always guided by the vision of respect, equality, regularity and meritocracy, seeking to offer the best result for Brazilian society in all our activities.

In acting as President of CAIXA, I have always been committed to combating all forms of harassment, repelling any and all forms of violence, in any of its possible configurations. Professional advancement always stems, in my view, from ability and merit, and never as any possibility of exchanging favors or payment for any advantage that may be offered.

The reported accusations are not true! I repeat: the accusations are not true and do not reflect my professional or personal attitude. I am absolutely certain that these accusations will not be supported when undergoing a technical and impartial evaluation.

However, I cannot harm the institution or the government by being a target for political rancor in an election year. If it was the purpose of collaborating that made me accept the honorable challenge of presiding over CAIXA with absolute integrity, it is with the same purpose of collaboration that I have to step aside at this moment so as not to weaken the collection of achievements that do not belong to me personally, belong to the entire team that valiantly belongs to CAIXA and also to the support of all the hours I have always received from the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro.

I join my family in defending myself from the perversities launched against me, with the peaceful hearts of those who do not fear what they have not done.

Finally, I record my confidence that the truth will prevail.